Friday has been running 20/40 FLH starting around 10:30 am and 50/100 FLH gets going anytime between 5 pm and 8 pm. I plan to make the trek down from Canada this Friday for this.

Hi Carl, Guarantees haven't been lowered in 2 plus years here at TS. They have been and remain at $50K, $75K and $100K. The Guarantees also run just about every month. The only Guarantee that was lower was the $25K for $25 that we ran as a promo to introduce tournaments to newer players. Facts first before posts please. Thank you!

Just did a very quick search and history on events.

So far I’ve found 4 tournaments that either were lowered or just removed entirely. Dating back from 2012

Most notable change is the March mania series from 2014 to present. And the summer series of the Empire State as well

I see a 250k that was scrapped and became a 100k
I’ve found a few 100ks disappear and we’re left with just 50ks

So maybe they removed them. I guess that’s what I meant when I said lowered.

I can link exact tourneys later if you want. I am at work , just took me 30 seconds to see what was offered from 2012-2016

https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ven...-137/festivals

where have you been man? this has been going on for two years now and continues... TSpoker is dead

they have proven they have no idea when it comes to tournaments... ill give frankie a lot of credit.. he is very responsive on here and quick with his responses which is awesome... but his responses are usually all fluff...he doesn't listen to what people say and usually just comes up with some BS response instead of listening to what the players want... if he would actually take advice there's no reason TS couldn't run big gtd events again. don't expect it to happen though.

Hello Boss... Again, we just upped the East Coast to $75K for a $300 buy-in from $50K for $250. To say TS poker is dead is ridiculous and irresponsible statement when the facts say differently. Fact is we had 28 live games just this past Sunday, if that's dead ill take it all week long. Ill put TS against anyone in the region over the course of the year. We still offer the most Guaranteed money in events throughout the year (roughly $700K + in events) and still hold more $50K or Higher events than anyone in the region. That's not fluff Boss, that's not my opinion... that's fact. Additionally, as far as I know, we still are the only area property that company funds its promo pool by 25% to offer more promos and incentives to our Live Play guests, which by the way is a big part of any poker rooms success.

Our Tournaments are successful because we do and did listen to the MAJORITY of our guests who did not want to be priced out of or intimidated by tournaments. Are there those out there with different opinions... absolutely and those folks are entitled to that opinion. This is a business though and we deal with facts, data and analysis... Ill go with the wishes of the majority of our guests any day, everyday. We are averaging 355 to 550 per event. Considering the number and type of events that have increased in the region and are available along with our own, (thereby diluting the possible player pool in the process) Ill still put us right there with and above anyone for attendance and how well our events are run . Its easy to speculate, more difficult and smarter to evaluate. There is so much more that goes into large events than Buy-ins and Guarantees. Hotel Room availability, venue availability, staffing, etc... again facts not fluff...its all part of the event and how the volume is handled.

I appreciate the fact that my presence is appreciated here on 2+2. Many Directors do not respond on 2+2 anymore, because they are tired of taking the time to honestly answer questions and then have to deal with someone who remains anonymous and that has probably never seen the inner workings of a poker room call them a liar and a BS'er after taking the time to answer the question. That being said, that's not me...I will always be here on 2+2 to answer questions about our room.

If you'd like to continue this conversation please accept my invitation to stop by, I always have time to discuss the workings of the room and have no problem explaining my/our reasoning to anyone that takes the time to identify themselves and sit down with me for conversation. You can even call if you'd like to talk on the phone. The number is 315 361 8676...Ask anyone who answers for me, Thank you Boss!

This past Friday night, I was in the 7pm $50 buy-in tournament. I believe there were 52 total entries counting re-buys. I made final table and once we played down to 7 (paid out 6), I asked the table if they wanted to deal in the bubble for their entry fee back. Everyone agreed except one arrogant, cocky guy - I’m guessing a local pro or cardroom regular - who proudly announced to the table that he never cuts or agree to deals. We play on. Bubble bursts and once we play down to 4, myself and other player float a 4-way chop... again, the local pro refuses, and we play on. We whittle down to 3... I extend the offer again, and again, met with the local pro’s refusal. We play on. Once 3rd was eliminated, I offer the local pro a 50/50 chop ($560 each)... no deal. We play on. After I win a big hand and take most of his chips heads-up, I offer the 50/50 one last time... no deal. We play on, and he recovers to take the lead. He then decides to offer what I felt was the most ridiculous deal ever. We split 50/50 with the added caveat that we each tip $160 to the dealers. Mind you all, an hour earlier, a 4 way deal would have netted everybody $400. That, and as much as I appreciate the dealers, $160 is way too extravagant for a low-stakes game. I refuse, and we play on. I grind the local pro down and finally we get all our money in with my K-T vs his K-J. I flop the 10, and he runs dry, rivering a meaningless K to make his pair and complete my two pair. Tournament over, I win $698, he wins $422.

I get that the local pro was within his rights to refuse a chop, but isn’t it proper etiquette in such a low stake game to simply chop 3-4 ways and avoid the predictable pushbot fests that occur with the blinds at escalated levels? While i’ll take the money and run (I did leave a $25 tip for the room), I felt sorry for everybody else because one guy felt it was necessary to prove that he had larger cojones than everyone else and had to win a heads up battle. It’s not like anyone is winning a WSOP bracelet or anything. I would have been happy with a chop or even losing the heads-up and taking 2nd money.

Anyway, the TS room is always nice, dealers are great, and a good balance of games. I’ll be back.

Hot Rod

Hi Blake, unfortunately some play that way, but good for you and your win. We appreciate the kind words about the room. Next time in stop by the office and say hello!...Frank

One change I’d make to the tournaments is the bonus add-on. I’d rather pay an additional $10 for $2k than have to get there 45 minutes early. A couple of weeks ago, we had some wintry weather that made the travel from Albany area to TS slow, and was unable to earn the extra $2k. That, or keep the 45 minute rule for the free $2k but charge $10 to anyone after 6:15. JMHO.

The one breaching etiquette here is the one who is asking to chop 4 different times to someone who has clearly stated he does not want to chop.

It is never a breach of etiquette to decline a deal offer. The manner in which he declined may have been a breach of etiquette, but I wasn't there to see it. You obviously didn't like the guy, but it is completely possible, given what you describe, that he did nothing wrong at all in terms of attitude or words. You clearly didn't like him. It was equally within your rights to decline his deal offer, and not a breach of etiquette.

Plus, one reason I often decline deals is simply how bad most players are at heads-up. And a big part of that reason is that even if you play these daily tournaments 200+ times per year, and make dozens of final tables a year, there is a good chance you have little or no experience at heads-up. And that is because it is so common to chop when down to 3-6 players. Nothing wrong with making any deal that everyone agrees to, but it does mean you don't get experience at 4- and 3-handed poker, or heads-up.

Cheers, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

How is this not a parody account?

Because its not, Mr. Thirteen posts. Please go back and read some of Greg's Three Thousand posts.

Then ask your question again.

Nice reading comprehension. Clearly I understand this isn't a parody account? I was surprised that he would respond to such a silly post concerning a micro buy daily tournament at a casino I'm guessing he's never been to.

Enjoy being miserable.

After he declined the first time, I would of just dropped it. I've played at turning stone a lot over the years and other local casinos in the area. Some guys just like to play it out. It's hard to make a final table in tournaments due to the variance of them. He liked his chances to win. Nothing wrong with that. I was always the guy who would agree to the chop. Now I wish it wasn't even an option. No pressure to agree to a deal from the rest of table.

Agreed.

He did nothing wrong. When you sign up you’re made aware what the payouts are. He is within his right. Stop pestering him.

The guy clearly thought you were a nit thus he offered the chop only if you tip the dealers $160. The guy probably didn’t even care about the money and was there to play a tourney to the end- the way it’s meant to be. Can’t believe you’re such a nit you’re whining about the incident online now. There is no etiquette to chop. Pestering the guy to chop multiple times when he clearly said
NO NO NO is the breach of etiquette.

Thanks for the feedback, Greg. Heads up/short handed play is something that I strive to improve on. How often do you get out to Turning Stone or the upstate NY local cardrooms?

I think the last time was about 12-14 years ago. ;-)

I'd love to visit again, but need more incentive than just a well-run room. Too busy without more happening for me.

Cheers, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

Hey Frankie,

Not sure what the exact final#s were to the 300 but seems like it did quite well. Any chance you guys throw out more of these bigger gtns in the future? I feel it would be awesome if turning stone could roll out 2 weekends every series where they had a smaller buy in and a bigger one (think 300-600 dollar range).

Also any chance you guys start having a series every month unlike the past (per Hendon mob, I see months like July,September, December.... don’t have bigger mtts). I know everything is done based on demand and what the customer wants but I feel the mtts lately have been crushing the gtns.

Finally, can we expect 500s in August and November like there have been in the past?

Hi JK, considering that other poker rooms are also planning their summer/fall events, that's a lot of hand tipping you are asking me to do in answering those questions. As time gets closer we will be detailing our intentions...Thanks for your interest, your patience, consideration and understanding. We appreciate it!

Agreed. Would love to see them bring back an actual series or even back to back weekend $570-$100k gtd and maybe a $1,100- $150k to $200k gtd. Can run satellites for the $1k all week leading up to it. I’m sure a summer $1k event would draw well.

Please get rid of the July 25 for 25 tournament in 2020. I vote for a 100+20 mtt with a big gtn and maybe 6-8 flights with a solid structure. Just my thought, that it would do better and top money places would pay more along with allowing for a better structure in place.

I know this promo is probably trying to get the person that has never played poker in at a low cost point however I feel for $25, how can the casino make money along with offering a solid payout at top.

Btw are we getting 570s in November and August like in the past? I honestly don’t understand why this information isn’t distributed earlier. As someone that travels around to play mtts, its painful to know about a series a month in advance. Not criticizing just turning stone here, it happens throughout the industry so no mud being slung at turning stone here.

Btw is turning stone ever going to improve structures slightly / get rid of 25 chips? I just got back from a series at the borgata (a place that has mtts that should be mirrored bc they are the class of the northeast imo). No pointless 25 chips early in mtts, great structures that have heaps off bbs early that are 1 day events, skip levels but the amount of chips makes up for it. I guess I just think turning stone should go back to 1 day events like were offered 10 years ago.

Why do we need an mtt that has multiple flights and a day 2? Offer a $250 25k gtn on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I think it would do well. 30-40k starting stack, 30 min levels easily could be finished in 1 day. Just my thoughts.

Hello JK...the July tournament is exactly that, it is to bring players and new players into the poker room. We are working on changing the structures to eliminate the $25 chips. As far the number of days to run an event I have addressed this several times in previous responses concerning staffing the event area and the poker room at the same time. I've also explained NJ casinos have ability to hire dealers from other properties on a daily basis to staff their events because dealers hold a STATE license. Here in NY, license's are property specific and we are not permitted to hire on a daily basis from other properties. Hop[e to see you in August for the Empire State!

Is the Empire State going to go back to a 200k this August?

I would really hope you consider doing a $570 100k for a weekend, and a $1080 or whatever the rake is for a 200k

You will beat BOTH guarantees!!! Do it!!

Sadly, we've been having this discussion for a while.