Hey everyone, I've been on this board for a little while but never saw this section. I'm a regular of the GR poker scene so I'm sure I know some of you. My name is Jonathan. I used to frequent Westgate and Woody's but don't got to either of those places much anymore. I typically play tournaments. I've been playing the TJ's Fri/Sat. tournaments. If you know me, introduce yourself sometime.

What kind of turnout do those tournaments at TJ's get? I was out in Muskegon at The Big Game room for the saturday night tourney which only had 30 people. Pretty small for a saturday night. I know Westgate gets more than that. I am trying to figure out which place is best in regard to a players to payout ratio.

They limit the fri/sat tournaments to 60. On some days it sells out by 6:45 but in the summer, at least when the weather is nicer, they get 50 or so.

$50 buy in 25k starting chips both fri and sat. night.

Westgate used to get a lot of people for their tournaments but lately it's been pretty dead so I've stopped going. I'm limiting myself to only playing tournaments where 1st place is around $1000 or more.

Played Westgate $20 freezeout this afternoon. There were 5 full tables with alternates because they did not have enough dealers. WTF? Anyways actions was lol bad we lost 5 players at our table with in 8 hands. People shoving all in with flush draws, TPTK, inside straight draws haha. I know that is what you get for $20 donkament, so chips were flying. I stayed patient and won a few small pots when this hand happened. I am at 5500 chips blinds 100/200 in the BB. 8 limpers and I look down at JJ and shove all in to pick up 1600 chips. I get called by an loose lucky old man who plays every hand. He calls me with pocket tens and spikes a ten on the river. GG me.

The dealer I had this time was on top of his game a nice change from what I am used to at Westgate.

Any non-holdem games running in GR at this point in time?

I was signed up for that tournament. I was third alternate at 130pm! My buddy went in at 1:55 and they had 29 alternates. We left and went out to TJ's and played $50 tournament with 25k starting stack. Way better tournament and structure. Finished 2nd for $400.

The only one I know of is TJ's they have pot limit omaha cash game. I believe its on thursday nights.

I thought about playing in that tourney instead, but decided on playing at Westgate then headed north to visit a friend. I called about TJ's Saturday afternoon turbo and they do not very many entrants so that was not a choice.

I know that TJ's Friday and Saturday tourneys fill up pretty fast as well. Was the tourney full Saturday night? I like TJ's setup better with the jumbo screen tournament clock and blinds levels.

My only complaint would be to do some minor training for the charity workers as they did not understand the difference between the rake and dealer tips. Congrats on the score!

What blinds?

TJ's is a 1-2 PLO game. There is a 2-5 RxR game Monday nights at Woody's, but the list is long to get into it. Game can be really good though.

I believe out in Muskegon the Big Game Room runs a poorly-structured PLO tourney on Tuesdays, with cash games following. Haven't made it out there though.

Very rarely Westgate will run a RxR. Has to be on a weekend night though, otherwise just not enough gamble there.

Century lanes in Holland is better then both woods and westgate on the ** weekends** they have muti cash tables both days and usually always get a 2/5 going.. on Tuesdays they started a 5/10 which should be a regular game here on out. Expect better players and also more fish..

I haven't made it out to Century Lanes yet I will have to give it a try. The last time I was out in Holland was to go to the Poker Zone. Haha what a place that was.

Yup this place is nothing like pokerzone

TY!

Has 5/10 stayed alive?

Played in TJs $35 freeze out last night. There was 35 players and I busted 26. I had AQ with 11k stack blinds 300/600 raised to 2k preflop. One player called in the big blind and he covered me. Flop was A99 no flush draw. He checked to me I bet 3k and he called. The turn was a 4 he checked I bet 4k he called. Then he checked a third time and I shoved for 3.5k. The river was a king. He called and showed AK. I think I butchered the hand. They also had a deep Omaha game going with about 4k on the table.

made the trip up to GR from St. Joe area Friday night.

got to TJ's about 6, signed up for $50 7p tournament.

first impression: actually better than I expected, seems fairly well run.
Julie the waitress was quite attentive (and cute)

2nd $1-2 cash table was just opening, so I took a seat.
button straddle allowed, nice change of pace.
no money to be made here, everybody's solid.

chopped tournament for $475 profit.

heard they have a $1-2 PLO game on Thursdays... will be back for that for sure. If they play PLO like they play hold'em, should be a nice evening.

I haven't made my way to Westgate since October...How is the action as of late? Still the same group of regulars? Still loose as hell?

That is if they don't sell out of chips.

You mean collusion central? I was glad to see that place fold.

I can't say that I was, there were some incredibly bad regulars.

It's been a long time since I've played anywhere, what's going to be a good place to play (probably just 1/2 cash) this weekend? I can do GR, Holland or Muskegon no problem.

The ones I have visited most frequently in the last year are:
1) Woody’s
2) Westgate
3) TJ’s
4) Century Lanes

Of course the action always changes as time moves on.

Expecting to make a trip back to Grand Rapids in March or April. Is Woody's still good for games? I haven't been there in a few years, but I'll be staying practically next door.

Yea Woody's is still the place to play. 1/2 game usually gets pretty crazy with the avg being 12-15 of raise every hand

Hello I used to be regular in west Michigan cash (Woodys, westgate, and BGR in Muskegon). I moved to Detroit and am headed home next weekend to go on a charity casino bus trip to little river. I've never been there. I see there is a poker room does anyone know how games are or if they run? Ill be looking to play 1-2 but would worst case scenario I'd wrather play 3/6 limit than black jack.

Ty