Quote:
Originally Posted by jb1aze
Anyone else completely underwhelmed with the Turning Stone schedule, aside from the 1M main event?
Any insights to the last couple years stops here and anything bad to say about it?
Thinking about making the trek out from Mass for a long weekend binge.
I’m assuming you MEANT to say “anything nice to say about it” so I’ll be happy to assist:
Turning Stone does an incredible job hosting the WSOP Circuit, and the traveling WSOP show works seamlessly with TS to run a fantastic series of events.
I highly recommend any amateur to serious poker player avail themselves of what TS offers its poker players, because the poker room at Turning Stone is run with poise and efficiency by the best poker team of managers and dealers on the entire east coast.
I suggest that if you choose to play in the TS WSOP next year, be mindful of the following:
-as with any vacation, you need to book your room well in advance - I booked mine in November for the WSOP. So many people have been complaining about rooms being sold out and only smoking rooms available - plan in advance and you have no issue!
-the events center is always cold - it’s winter in upstate NY, and we are playing in a 6,000 seat arena. wear a hoodie and bring a hat.
-the poker room does not take callaheads for cash games during the WSOP, so be prepared to wait a little for a seat, especially as tournaments are breaking. They are well staffed and the team works hard to seat guests promptly, but patience and maturity is needed because of the chaos, and gets rewarded if you are courteous to their staff as we all should be towards hospitality professionals.
-the payout structures for WSOP are very too heavy - they will pay 15% of the field, but there’s a lot of min cash places and sharp bumps in payouts as you go deeper, this is par for the course for WSOP events so do your research and know what to expect instead of getting upset that finishing in the top 9-14% doesn’t pay what you feel you think it should - these aren’t home games. WSOP sets this, not turning stone - pretty sure the same structures are used for all circuits and for WSOP in Vegas.
-sign up for your WSOP tournaments well in advance - don’t show up 5 minutes before the event starts and expect to sit before cards are in the air. If you sign up 90 minutes before a tournament starts, you have plenty of time to grab a drink, eat something, hydrate, and get to your table before play begins. I saw so many people getting antsy while waiting in lines because cards were in the air and they weren’t seated yet and worried about joining in with 67 BB instead of 100, especially for the 1-day events - the WSOP runs with about four cashiers at highest volume, so choosing the right time to register helps you avoid long lines.
-Turning stone is clean, staffed with friendly professionals, accommodating to those who treat hospitality workers and other humans with respect, and offers a fantastic getaway with something for everyone.