Hey all,

So since I can't change the title of the Mix Game Interest thread, I thought let's start a new one for the Silks and we can post about the Mix Game and other happenings going on there. I don't work there, but I do play there from time to time, and if I ever get a Friday off again (or we change to a different day) I can play in the Mix again.

So just like the Hard Rock thread or others around the country, here is a thread to post about the Silks.

Thanks Andy for starting this thread.

Anyone want any information about the room, our tournaments or general florida poker questions feel free to post on here and I will gladly answer them.

Gents,

I'm in Tampa for a very quick weekend (flying in Saturday at 6:00pm, meeting Sunday morning, out again at 8pm). I saw the thread about mixed games at The Silks and although it looks like the game usually runs Fridays, I'm curious as to what limit games there are on Saturday evenings. I'd love to get in some poker while I was in town. Would a HORSE interest list on Saturday get any action at all?

What's the rake on a $26 pot? Including jackpot.

It would be $5 total (an initial $2 taken for the jackpot at $20; and $3 total for the rake having been taken at $25, with the first two dollars being taken at $5, then at $15). There would then be another $1 taken at $35, and the max rake of $5 taken at $45. I would think this is realtively fair and reasonable for the area. If others think otherwise, though, please do feel free to respond and say so.

By the way, thanks for starting this thread. I, for one, will be checking it regularly and am glad to see one dedicated to The Silks Poker Room at Tampa Bay Downs!

Sincerely, AzAssassin

Do you really believe 20% rake is fair?

Do you usually get 5/10 running on weeknights? Anything higher that isn't a private game?

I meant that it is fair and reasonable in comparison to the rake at other card rooms in the area. I believe it is comparable to the 3 rooms in the Tampa Bay area. And The Silks recently started taking the jackpot drop beginning at $20, meaning that there is nothing taken for the jackpot until the pot reaches $20. It also means that there must be $20 in the pot in order to be jackpot eligible; but I've heard people mention that they like that change.

If you know of a card room in the area, or anywhere in Florida, that has a different/better rake, please let it be known.

- AzAssassin

The rake on a 26$ pot would be 3$ at hard rock FWIW...

Fair? I suppose you could go play at that Florida card room who does 10% up to 4$ with no jackpot drop and no flop no drop.

[ x ] does not exist

Rake structures in Florida are not the most competitive nation wide, no.

Rake structures in past could be set at anything and it would really not hurt the player pool significantly enough to damage the bottom line, bc a whole lot of people could afford the $100 dollar buy-in days.
Well, not everyone can afford the games anymore, and those that still can and are not winning won't soon enough.

The Silks has been making strides towards raking less of the total pot. For instance, just a few short months ago we used to take $1 on $10 and $2 on $20 for jackpot drops. Now we have limited to only the $2 on $20. This has increased action on smaller games, and lessened the burden on players in smaller pots.

Also, we have created a more competitive comp system or rakeback if you will. We now offer 50 cents comp on 1/2 NL, $1 comp on 2/5 NL, and $3.33 comp on 5/10 NL and higher (top the off with the fact that with have the best rake for those games in the area).

One thing people on this forum seem to have a problem with is the money for the jackpot drops that obviously boost the total money taken out of pots to over 10%. Well, I think it has been explained enough on here that most of the people in this forum are on the wrong side of the majority on this issue. Players love the promotions, they can't get enough of them.
I will throw one thing out there, if the jackpot drop is of a real concern to you please feel free to ask the entire table if they are willing to play without jackpot eligibility. If everyone agrees we won't drop a single dollar into that little hole.

Thanks for your post TAGKILLA. Hope to see you one day in the room.
If you have any other concerns feel free to ask here on through PM.

Joao

Archimedes,

Our HORSE games usually runs on Friday nights as a collective effort of 2+2'ers.

I was hoping that this game would spark up more steady interest for the game both in our room and locally, but that has not been the case thus far (crossing fingers).
You are more than welcome to try to spark up interest on here, and if you are really interested I can make some phone calls and see if I can gather some people.

When you do come down please make sure to put up an interest list and make sure a cashier makes an announcement.

If the game does not go we still have great cash game and tournament action in the room. So feel free to stop by and say hello.

Joao

Yes, I am not there most weeknights but I am typically on Monday and Wednesday and both days we do have a 5/10 NL going.

Wednesday's we have mutiple tables of it, and all the games are great action.
We also now comp $3.33 p/hr on that game.

As for anything higher not private, not typically. But if you are interested in starting a higher game feel free to let me know what game you have interest in and I have some guys that would give you action and get some more interest sparked up as well.

Are you saying that you now get .50/hour comps on 1/2nl and $1/hr comps on 2/5nl and $3.33/hour comps on 5/10nl?

Affirmative.

Wow, I thought they still had the (lol) quarter an hour comps, that is a positive step. Do you still round up when computing rake? That was always a gripe with me, though not as much as the $2 jackpot drop

It was like some ridic .15/hour before. Yes they round up the rake and have $2 JP. Not sure how he is saying best rake in the area unless its West of Nebraska Ave. only. lol

I meant we have the best rake for 5/10 NL.

Yes, we do round up at the 5's. So a $35 pot would be raked $4, and a $34 pot $3.

Sounds like some good action and nice location but I heard there is a dealer that likes to berate his players and blames it on his "whore-ish Mother"...This can't be true can it?

Speaking of the rake, I will say that I appreciate you guys reducing the rake to keep the games going shorthanded. The last three times I've been at a table that got under 5 handed there was no resistance whatsoever from the floor when we asked for a rake reduction. Can't say the same for some of the other rooms in the area.

edit: Also, I get the sense that a lot of the players in your room still think they're only getting 10c/hr comps. If you really want to use the comps to promote your room, your managers definitely need to do a better job of letting people know about it. Maybe just something as simple as making a PA announcement once every couple hours letting people know about what they can get with the players card and what promos (and, ahem, mix games) are running that night.

Address that. What percentage of your tables are 5/10? You are sucking dry the vast majority of your tables while catering to the small percentage of your players who pay a small percentage of your rake.

It's a reason why I live 5 miles from the Silks (I live in Westchase), yet have not stepped foot in the place since like May of 2010. (and not being open 24 hours on the weekend)

Speaking as a dealer and not a manager I believe the reason why bigger games get catered to more than smaller games, in terms of rake size and so on, is because those type of players are a lot more aware of what is important in a poker game.

In smaller games, most players honestly are not really thinking the best place with the best rake is where they will play. They are thinking "what place has the best promotions?", "what place is closest to my house?", "what place has the bet environment?"... things like that.

Obviously, this is a generalization but I do believe to still hold true now. However, I do believe that one day soon it will change, as more fish start to go broke. When that does I assure you that The Silks will do their best to adjust to the market.

What game do you typically play crazynip?

2/5 and 5/10, mostly 2/5 lately as I have had a lot of life expenses and my BR has taken a hit. Just got back from the HR actually.

Well, I obviously have a bias considering I work there. But, I also play 2/5 and I think the 2/5 game in our room has the best action. And, it would not be tough for me to find a multitude of people that would agree with me.

Our game is 200 min./1k max and our weakest players are typically the one that give out the most action. The other places I play a lot of the really weak players are just nits.

But, to each his own. Come by sometime and play though, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Making the drive up tonight, is it still 10am-4am everyday?

Correct.

GL.