I'm in Joliet, Heroes is about 20 minutes away. When you have a tourney coming up post it in here.

Main Event Charity announced on their website that they will run a tournament on June 5th to win a seat for the 2010 WSOP Main Event. What I find interesting is they guarantee a $10,000 seat with only a $150 buy-in. With a $10,000 guarantee this could be a real value for someone who wants to take a shot at the main event.

Before World War 3 starts on this thread I would like to make a comment. I feel that this thread can be a valuable resource for Chicago area poker players. My reason for this post along with Rockford’s May 8th event is to inform players interested in playing in the WSOP. So instead of criticism I would gladly rather see more WOSP qualifiers posted.

The fourth annual Chicago Poker Open will be held May 22th at the State Restaurant. This has become one of the City’s most popular charity poker tournaments. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago run this charity event.

The Sacred Heart Church will be running tournaments and cash games June 4th & 5th. They will be running four tournaments during the two days starting at 6pm Friday. This event will be at 11900 S. Laramie in Alsip.

Looks like Main Event Charity Games has rolled out Season II for the Windy City Poker Championship!

Looks like they are rolling out a bunch of Day 1 Flights to accomodate for the huge turnout they expect. Anyone playing in any of the flights I am thinking about playing in the one at the Irish American Heritage Center or the one at the Galaxy Banquets Hall. Any 2+2 ers thinking of sharking one of the flights. I might satellite my way in throuhg one of the Sit N Gos.



Disclaimer: I do not work or have any personal affiliation with Main Event Charity Games or Windy City Poker Championship..

Any other omaha players that play the charity circuit? 1/2 PLO has been spread every weekend for the last 6 at Chicago charitable games. Any other Omaha fiends going to make it on Friday at the odeum? Game is supposed to start around 5pm. Can't seem to find any good PLO games much so it's great when it goes. Tired of playing O8 at Hollywood even though that's a great game too.

I rarely go to any charity events because I think they are pretty scummy and shady, but last time I went to a Rockford event we got a 1-2 plo going with a 200 min 500 max buyin. It was a really really good game honestly and I might have to go back if they keep spreading it. I occasionally play PLO at the shoe, but the game usually isn't all that good in my opinion.

I have been playing both Charity organizations. Here are my observations:
- Rockford gets the PLO game going very rarely. Most of the time it is $5/$5 with a $5 per 1/2 hour rake! Yes, no per hand rake! In the last year I have only seen $1/$2 twice. Most all PLO games end after 3-4 hours or when a couple of the big winners take off.

- Chicago Charitable. They used to have the occasional PLO tourneys & $1/$2 cash. PLO tourneys have not been run for 4+ months but the last 6-7 weeks the PLO $1/$2 game has been going on at every event! Running for 10-12 hours straight with people on the waiting list and such! Apparently a couple of players have a hand in organizing the game hence the frequency. One time 2 weeks ago, there was even a feeder table going!!
Game is VERY juicy with a fair amount of $$ on the table. This Friday they are at the Odeum. 2 weeks ago at the Odeum, the game started early, had constantly 3+ people on the waiting list and the game went very strong till closing time. Odeum is traditionally one of the best and most attended location for this group.

I love PLO and have played it at the Horseshoe a few times but the last few months I have had a lot of resistance from them even to get a list going. Sat & Sun nights it gets going but it's always touch-and-go as to how many players, when & if it'll go.

Majestic now has a regular $1/$2 PLO game that gets going late on Thursday night and plays till Friday morning. At which point it converts to $5/$10 O8 that goes fairly strong sometimes till late Saturday. The bad part is that the O8 game is full of the same 10-15 regulars who buy in for $100 and keep reloading so it's hard to get a seat to actually play.

Hope this helps.

Long time lurker, and first-time poster.

There is a charity event this Saturday, benifitting Trade Winds Services, an organization close to me. If you can make it to the Majestic Star on Saturday evening, here's the details: http://www.tradewindservices.org/pdf...575x85_reg.pdf

What's better? I just saw that Chicago Poker Club is giving away Three Free Seats to the event! I'm not certain, but it looks like very few people have entered the drawing, so your chances will be good! I wish I could play, but I'll be helping out.

Gramps, what percentage of the prize pool is going to the charity and what percentage is going to the organizing company? No one involved with these "charity" events ever wants to answer those questions.

And every time someone brings up these events, they always seem to have positive comments that sound eerily like a salesman's pitch about a site/charity/event...

Maybe I'm just cynical, but who writes "what's better...[Site X is doing this great thing!]"?

Also, it's amazing how so many of these events don't want to disclose their payouts...it's not that hard - Brian Campell's charity tournament back in Febuary was able to post the pay-outs (they were horrible, but then again no one was in this tournament because of the payout) when they first announced it. People are supposed to sign up for a poker tournament with no clue what the payout is other than it's "subject to change"? And put the money down first?

been playing at the chartable games since I turned 18. The 1/2 usto be insane soft. Now it is really hit n miss. the 2/5 imo is easier to beat but u obv need a bigger bankroll

Just a warning to all those who go and play in these games. I've heard many stories of colluding and cheating going on here. Many of the people who run the events seem to be oblivious to this stuff (or maybe they just don't care). Many of the dealers are so young and clueless they do not notice anything. There are also obviously no cameras or any actual way to catch the cheaters other than red handed.

Recently I heard someone was caught with 2 queens (one blue and one red, for both deck colors) in his back pocket. He had been using these to win huge pots then leaving. Someone finally noticed and he supposedly got busted. His punishment? Banned from all their future events. (oh no!)

A lot of the people who go to these events are also regulars, everyone knows everyone. So just be careful out there guys.

protect your hand. speak up if you see something odd. players are most often the ones to catch cheating. at least the charity events offer a safe location with security.

I heard RCG and CCG were both shut down by the IRS, but now are back up and running. Anyone confirm this?

I got an email that said something about the Monday event is shut down because the gov't or irs or someone didn't want people to have charity poker or something. But at the same time they said that event after that would be open. So I don't know what the deal is there.

I actually heard it was because they didn't get chips from a licensed vendor. So who knows???

I'm also wondering about such business. I was playing @ a RCG event in Bensonville a week or so ago and apparently state revenue agents came in and were making a fuss of things. RCG switched the NL games to FL (2/5 Limit - lmao), the agents were ID'ing the dealers; I was going to buy into a cash game but I think the chip sales were stopped for an "inventory" of some sort, so I left. Anyone with insight care to chime in? Despite their events' relative closeness to me I'm thinking it's not worth the hassle anymore.

I was playing at a house game the other night and had recognized him from rcg years ago. I play the occasional deepstack on a Saturday. I asked him if he was still following. He said that he doesn't any longer because of all the colluding, cheating and players working together. I asked if there were any particular instances and he didn't go in to specifics. Nonetheless, I wouldn't put it past these guys that are regulars at these games that there is some collusion.

I believe if you were to read the law concerning charitable gaming fundraisers in Illinios, it say maximum wager is 5 bucks, or something small in that neighborhood. Have always wondered how all these charity places have NL.....

And max payout is $200.........

Since part of the money that goes to charity goes to the Fraternal Order of Police.

i have the same thoughts on rcg. Especially the larger sit n gos. But i also felt that there was cheating goin on in cash games as well. Only instance that i go play here anymore is if they are within 10 minutes away from home, otherwise i rather make the 30 minute trip to the shoe

No more deepstacks at rockford charitable games on saturdays?? this was the only reason i ever played at these things! it was fun while it lasted. I don't see them advertising them anymore on their site.

Well... this thread has got my suspicions on the rise again. I know RCG has been dealing with license requirements. At least that's what it says on their website. To always be on the alert for cheating is horrendous. I've noticed also the lack of classy management at the sites. I usually stick to the SNG's and do pretty well. Might sit down in a cash game and observe for awhile. They definitely need to be more open to customers requests for games other than NLH. The rake is reasonable compared to the Grand Victoria in Elgin. I guess I'll just stick to FT for now.

Chicago charity games are about to get super tough cuz all the 18-20 online regs will be going there this summer. Fml.