Yeah, I noticed that all Nugget events you have to add $10 for the extra chips. I hate that. Just say it is $135 or $240 and give us the chips, and the staff their $10. I do hate that advertising. I'm glad Venetian did change that because they used to be the same way. Is Binions still that way with the $10?

Looking forward to hearing some early numbers when this thing kicks off Saturday. What is Texas Nugget NL Hold 'em?

On a different note - how are the cash games at the GN if you bust out of one of the many non NLH events? Thinking about playing in PLO8, HORSE or LO8 events at noon.
Do non NLH cash games get going in the afternoon?

Was fortunate to run deep in the HORSE nooner I played in last year, but I don't remember any interesting mixed/non-NLH games on the board at dinner break.

Last year I ended up playing HORSE $4/8 and $8/16 at Venetian, $4/8 lowball/split mixed at Aria, and some $10/20 TORSE at Rio. Based on my experience last year the V was the best for low-limit mixed - they were willing to start short-handed with low rake and keep the games going. I think they were only dropping $3 last year at $8/16 when Rio was pulling $5 or $6 for $10/20.

Planning to play at GN for Triple Stud on the 6th, HORSE on the 8th, O8 on the 9th, and HORSE on the 11th. If you're there for any of those, I'll help you get a board started for mixed cash.

First day numbers:
Noon NLHE: 256 players, top 27, $5960 1st
Noon OE: 112 players, top 13, $6518 1st
5 pm Triple Draw/6 max NLHE: 36 players, top 5, $1222 1st

Anyone have results from last year?

Thanks for posting the numbers! Seems like a reasonably good start.

Planning on playing PLO8 on the 7th and HORSE on the 8th
Look for the guy in the "play dead" hat and say hi.

Good luck

Bluff Magazine shows 252 for event 1 last year.

Anyone know where I can find the number of players and prize pool for these events (other than Day 1 above?)

There were approx 160 runners in the nlhe on Sunday. Soft field but with the excessive rake and mediocre dealing standards I am not sure I will bother again.

The lack of 25 chips is a joke, you start with 4 each and it is a structure that uses lots of 25 chip heavy levels. 75/150, 25 ante levels etc. The constant changing up, with inexperienced dealers and players not paying attention was slowing everything up.

Yea I think I'm going to pass on the events here as i remember how poorly this was run last year.

Are they really that bad? I'm playing to play a couple PLO8 tournaments...

Played yesterday (128 runners, 13 paid) & yes the dealers were that bad. Most were v inexperienced & painfully slow. The players had to constantly correct them on basic errors. Pretty atrocious. I will say they did have overall good attitudes tho.

They also removed 3 levels: Level 9 500-1000 (key level), Level 15 2500-5000, & Level 18 5K-10K.

This used to be a lower variance alternative series to play for better players given the softer field & deeper structure. Not anymore.

$10 optional bonus certainly does not seem optional. They tell u its a $135 when u buyin.

FWIW, if the "optional" $10 is staff bonus that equates to a 7.4% tip. The structure sheet says they also take an additional 3% from prize pool for staff.

10.4% off the top for tips seems excessive especially since more will be expected (and encouraged) upon payout.

Passing on this series going forward. Wouldn't recommend it given smaller fields, structure changes, and inexperienced dealers.

Not sure why people would play the GN series when Binions right across the street has less rake, better structure, better dealers (by far), and a really nice tournament room. I've heard nothing but complaints about the GN series ever since it started.

Because Binions has one PLO8 MTT and GN has two while I'll be in Vegas. Planning to play all 3 of them. Maybe GN isn't good for NLHE, but at least they have a wide variety of MTTs. I can only play NLHE in Ohio/Indiana which is why I'm looking forward to playing something different for a week.

So next Friday I was planning to play the Noon NL tournament for $125 @GN.

The noon start time is preferential for me but after reading some of the last few comments, I can't help but wonder if I should be playing the 2:00 PM Binions NL tournament for $160.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

sounds like the better value imho. previous years only drawback was the blind times. binions upping it to 40 makes it a better value.

Thinking about this horse tourney today should be fun for only $230

Does that include all Addons and staff bonuses. Gn tricky about that

Yes, what's the rake and did they advertise it properly? Since I think I'm a baller I don't plan on playing this tournament but I feel it necessary to make a useless point ten times over... Thanks.

PS - Buying WSOP lammers at less than face value. PM me if interested.

lol. sometimes dead horses must be beaten.

Gonna play the triple stud on 17th and another one possibly at Nugget as well...

Do they finally comp players beverages while playing? Played this series a few times, and I refuse to pay $5/beer while playing in one of these...

Booze was free, but slow. Server came by about every 20-30 minutes when I was playing.

There's a cash bar set up right outside the tournament area, I bought one beer waiting for my tournament to start, was friendly with the bartender, tipped him a couple bucks...then the next time I went back (on a break, server hadn't been by in awhile) he said "aren't you playing in the tournament?" I said yes, beer was free (with oblig $1 tip) from him the rest of the night. YMMV.

Yes, drinks were comped which is a nice touch. I rarely drink alcohol while playing a tournament but once we made the money in the HORSE tourney on Saturday, a few of us took some intake on the alcohol beverage. Service was much faster later in the night when less people were in the room. There is no water available except from waitresses.

Also, is there a GN list of winners? They are not reporting it to Card Player and would like to see who the few players did after I my exit. That part is disappointing when a major tournament director doesn't report those in the money.