Any of you play in any summer series events? I'm glad it's over, wait times for the cash tables was insane.

Played the Main and triple barrel bluffed off my whole stack early day one so yes I agree the lack of cash games was frustrating

Yes Star had the worst rake in the civilised world and no you get nothing for free. Add to that the fact that you can't use mobile phones at the table, can't eat at the table, can't top up at the table and the live music on most nights can be deafening and you just have one sensational poker experience.

On the upside however there are loads of fish at all levels of NLHE and I find it hugely profitable at all levels though dont have a significant sample size at 3/3 and 5/5. I don't play PLO but thats very popular there too.

I've only played 5/5 at Crown. Rake is much better...one off $10 seat charge, no rake on pots up to $50, $5 for $50-95 pots and $10 for $100+.

I think there are plenty of live satellites to the AM. I was there last week and they seemed to be running them

thanks very much for the answers.
is it true however that tipping the dealer is uncommon or even illegal in australia? that would kind of compensate for the terrible hourly rake.

^tipping dealers is not allowed. If a dealer accepts a tip, they will lose their job.

Heading to sydney for xmas and new years. Does the 5/10/20 NL game at the Star run every day? Is it hard to get in the game? Any other casinos with 5/10+ NL or PLO?

lol what does star have 2+2 regs now?

Numbers seem to be very slowly creeping up though the obscene rake keeps a lid on too many joining in the fun.

maybe just a holiday season spike

No it doesn't but I assume you've come and gone now.

New tables, so are they good or are they whack?
What are they, what is the new rake like and what's the action like?
Nothing on the website about it.

I can't comment on the action, haven't been in a while...and finding online much more attractive overall at the moment. Here is the info they have for rake, limits and time charge. Looks about the same but they have removed the 1/2 now?! Sounds about right, considering it will give them more profit long term.

Was speaking with one of the floor managers a few weeks ago, and he commented about the casino wanting to get rid of poker all together as it doesn't bring in enough cash and takes up too much space. It's calculated on a $/sqm/hr basis and something like an hour at a single baccarat table makes what all of poker does in a night. Go figure.

Wow, didn't know they were restructuring and I play 2 to 3 nights a week. Will be interesting to see how it goes. I only play 5/5 so I'm glad 1/2 is gone. Might have a look at 2/3 though I imagine it will be nitty at first.

Likely that 2/5 game doesn't run IMO.

I hope that 2/5 game runs, if that picks up all the 3/3 crowd that would be the sweetest game imaginable especially with that rake! 2/3 being the lowest game would be amazing too.

Edit: 5/5 would be the one that takes the hit I would imagine rather than 2/5 as the game will play effectively just as big but with lower rake (at least that's what would happen if everyone was sensible). Hopefully that means that 5/10 starts getting up as that would make the most sense given the new structure. 5/10 might be just big enough to get some of the gamblers back across from PLO which is desperately needed right now.

I doubt the 5/5 regs would choose 2/5 over 5/5 because they like sitting down with $700 though it's probably marginal. Having said that though I'd probably prefer it for the $5/hr saving on time charge. There's only ever an absolute maximum of three 5/5 tables running and more often 1 or 2 so it's not like they can run them both that easily. And if 5/10 runs then a number of the 5/5 regs will play it.

I think all the 3/3 regs will just play 2/3 as it's virtually the same.

Getting rid of 1/2 is great. That's why I like Perth because the smallest game is 2/5 so that's all the fish can play.

Agree with you about PLO. Looks like the smallest game has increased there also and the 1/2 game already played big so some might come back, I don't know.

Anyway I'll be there tomorrow night so I'll report back.

I think you'll be right about the 5/5 regs - they like sitting with 700 but it won't enter their heads to just get a 5/10 game running and sit with 1k instead for the same rake. Unless 5/10 gets up I might clock up a few hours at the new 2/3, I'm interested in what the achievable hourly would be. I imagine higher than the old 3/3 as it's against the 1/2 crowd.

You'd think so though it may have fish buying in short and playing scared.

does the 5-10-20 game run every weekend? any weeknights?

I can't remember the last time it ran.

So what are the new games like? What games run? Anybody?

I played 2/5 Friday night. Had a really good weak table playing for stacks often. I was down 2 buyins in the first 30 minutes and ended up down a buy in overall. Was a much softer table than 5/5, not 1 reg that I recognised and some terrible players. One fish was frequently check raising $2k into $40 flop bets.

There were three 2/5 tables running and two 5/5's with very long wait lists for both.

I'll probably play 2/5 for the next few sessions, not really fussed though. Have had a break even 2 months and don't feel I'm playing great at the moment anyway.

Thanks for the feedback, will be hitting it up next Sat and give my thoughts. If 2/5 is getting up I see no reason to play 5/5 besides ego, the rake is lower at 2/5 and the game will play almost as big against much weaker opposition == doubleplusgood. Thinking of playing 2/5 and trying to get a 5/10 wait list happening. It's good they did something, 5/5 was on the verge of dying out. 1/3 will be a sweet BR builder for those starting out.

Played 5 hours last night(Sunday). There were no 5/5 tables running and two 2/5's. There were 20 people on the wait list for 5/5 and when they called the table I was the only one that sat (for 15mins) until I got called for 2/5.

Common sense prevails

Didn't get a chance to try out the 2/5 or 5/5 games but I definitely approve of the 2/3. Same players as the old 1/2 but significantly deeper, only good things can result. Looking forward to trying out the 2/5 tomorrow.