The $500 Apples is going well Dave. I don't think it needs to be sped up any as it gives us time to play.

We were talking about the $ 5 Golden Apples NLH Arena...

Yeah, I think he knows which is why he wrote "$500". We are writing about the SNGs.

Okay, what I'm going to write here is through the eyes of an industry executive and not as player, so it may seem a bit abstract, but I reckon it is the same mental framework that dictates a lot of what is going on.

Actually really nothing has changed in terms of the real overall framework, it has been the same since 2006. So all the action against the processors has been in this framework. While there have been some very dramatic events (understatement), this hasn't changed the actual framework for better or worse. Hero is in the same industry environment as it was 6 months, 1 year and even when I was at Stars, 3 years ago.

I think a lot of the confusion is whether or not the recent issue is aimed at the processor then to the network OR the issue was simultaneously address to both the processor and the network OR only to the processor, but the network had to engage it because of player fund issues. I'm not going to speculate on which one it could be or why, but the main point is, that fundamentally it isn't different to what has happened since 2006 in that the action begins with the processor. But of course with all the recent events, it is disconcerting (understatement), but in an industry's view point, nothing really has changed. From a player's perspective, perception will change based on whatever news occurs, but the underlying framework hasn't changed.

Of course I'm not getting into the implications of the framework as that is something that some firms understand more than others and it is a complex environment that needs to be constantly managed. At this point, I think that most players are 10 times more educated about the industry and the process than they were 1 year ago and so I think it is extremely good for the industry in that, 1. most players will get the gist of what I'm saying now, opposed to 1 year ago when it wouldn't have made sense at all, and 2. if a site comes out with a press release about this and that, most players can take a critical eye to it and from what I've read, there are some really spot on points players are making. I'd say the industry is growing up very very fast.


Ok, I hate when people sit out, so I'll get this sorted within this week with some changes! Goes against the entire reason why these are set up.

Cheers,
Dave

Any thought given to rotating the time slot of the $500 golden apples?

Or just making it an hour later.

Dave,
Thanks regarding the poker playing environment for the us players answer.

If anything I'd like it an hour earlier.

Must be easy to please everyone, lol.

Just looking back at Hero now after taking a wait-and-see attitude and have 2 questions that anyone can feel free to answer.

1. How are the cash games at micro and ssnl?
2. Is there a new depositor bonus at all now?

I have my rakeback so pretty much just trying to decide if it's worth moving from Stars to Hero for a while as I work on getting my game back after a downswing.

I've slept through it back to back weeks haha.

1. I think only another player can make a fair comment on that.
2. yes, it is automatic, 100% up to $600 plus reload bonuses etc.
Your RB generates VIP points at 65% the normal rate and while you can't exchange your VIP points, you can use them to buy into tournaments.

Cheers,
Dave

Dave, I thought Merge stopped completly with new players for rakeback, that its a VIP program that is almost the same.

If you had a rakeback account (with another skin) prior to the date they stopped and also a Hero account before, I believe it is still possible to get it transferred, but don't quote me on that. I believe the date was June 1st of last year. I started on GR88 but as soon as I heard of the policy change I stopped my play and got my rakeback account on Hero in August. I had a regular Hero account prior to the policy change. You must also have 60 days of no play on your old rakeback account before transfer.

I would prefer 18:30 myself. That is why I proposed a rotating time slot for this tourney. Hopefully it is given some thought.

Thanks for that Dave and appreciate why you didn't want to weigh in on point 1, but feel free if you like

I looked over the website but couldn't find any info on the deposit bonus in terms of playthrough, completion time, etc. Don't want to waste the bonus if the completion time is short and all.

In terms of the RB I assume you mean that I get 35% of my rake payed as rb and 65% of it as the points I'd have earned if I had no rb correct?

Hey,
The deposit bonus has a 3 month expiry date on it with a play through of 75 VIP points per $1 released, it is a lot I know, but if you can't finish it by that time, I can always reissue the remainder.

And yes, you're spot on about the RB/VIP, and just as a note to other readers, unless you have RB already from signing up pre June 1st and having it applied or tagged, you're unable to get RB on Hero due to network policies.

In terms of where the network is at the moment, the network is healthy in its general liquidity and you see it tracked here: http://www.pokerscout.com/
otherwise I'll let the other players weigh in about the game quality, but we do have a great number of depositing micro stake players.

Cheers,
Dave

They changed this policy. Merge is basically not allowing any transferring of rakeback or new accounts on rakeback. I was thinking of switching rakeback to hero but this can no longer be done. At one point it was June 1st and prior you could switch but then a little after you got switched Merge changed their policy. Before it was sign up June1st and before your account could have rakeback even if you did not deposit. However now some of those accounts were taken off rakeback because they did not deposit within a certain time.

Not sure if it was certain skins or network wide that got taken off rakeback that never deposited. I don't know if you were taken off if you could get back on rakeback.

Again, thanks Dave...most helpful.

Sadly though, assuming my calculations are correct, I'll have to wait until I'm feeling confident enough in my game to move up to 25 or 50NL to make the required points.

$600 x 75 / 0.65 = ~69000 points needed = 23000 per month = ~770 per day = ~$77 rake per day.

Somehow I don't think that would be possible at 2k hands per day under 25NL so will have to hold off on moving across atm. This is a shame as I really do want to make at least a semi-move across just based on you.

He said in his post that if you don't finish it in 3 months he can reissue a bonus for the remainder.

Anyone remember how many players were in the Apple $500 this past Sunday? Also, is the 25K BRB just for Hero players, and why do the terms state that you can keep playing in the qualifiers once you have qualified? Is there a strategy of trying to keep others out?

Pretty sure it's network wide, and I don't think there's any reason to play in any qualifiers once you qualify.

22 players last week in the golden apples. 25k is network wide. Keeping others out could be a strategy, but I found that I can keep more out by not registering (at least for some of the higher tier tournies). For example, last week the one with a point requirement of 300 points only had 8 registered and was cancelled. The min player requirement is 10 so if you are qualified, stay out of the 300 and 500 point mtts unless there are already 10+ reg'd.

Thanks, IsA and eto!

Haha yeah I've been doing this and then jumping in if they get like 15 and trying to steal a seat from them. If they are getting 300+ points though the chances of them not getting a seat are pretty slim over the course of it.

Dave, I have a question, can I change skins, and do you offer rakeback at all. I was told Merge completly went away from this. I do understand that the VIP points work something like that, I play close to 20 hours a week, MTT, and cash. Let me know if you could!