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Old 01-10-2019, 04:06 PM   #1
Track Collector
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2019 Poker Discussion Thread

This is the dedicated thread for general poker discussions related to year 2019.

I'll get things started with the topic of Promotions. Many poker rooms have offered various player promotions over the years with the intent to attract players to their specific venue. One common promotion was the allure of winning a big jackpot by having an extremely high hand that fails to win the pot. At my most-often visited poker venue the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races this promotion had been known as "The Bad Beat", which required the player to lose with Quad 7s or higher, have a total pot size of at least $10, and each player needed to use both his/her hole cards to make their best hand. Subject bad beat often went 8-12 months, with the total promotion amount split among all the players at the table typically ranging from $50K to $250K.

This is extremely nice for those fortunate enough to be participants in a bad beat hand, but the frequency of bad beats happening and the corresponding number of players who benefit from them is quite low.

In what might be a trend, I have noticed that my local poker room has moved away from "big score" type promotions, and replaced them with significantly smaller ones which are allowed to hit MUCH MUCH more frequently and involve a significantly great number of different players.

IMO these smaller payout, more frequently paid promotions are superior to the previous promotions in drawing more interest to this local poker room, and I wholeheartedly support them. I also find from experience that in certain circumstances it significantly alters one's wagering strategies. For example, it can be a challenge when one is trying to get paid for a very good hand, while at the same time wanting to keep some other players in the hand because the "very good hand" still needs a favorable turn or/and river card to make it a Qualifying High Hand. This strategy comes with the risk of failing to secure a Qualifying High Hand, which may allow one's opponent to draw out on them.

[Side story time --> One day this past December the High Hand was paying $1000 per hour. No one hit the previous hour or had a qualifying hand yet (Aces full, both hole cards must play, and player must be swiped in with their player card) for the current hour, which with the rollover was now worth $2000. On the last hand to count before the next rollover, I limp in with pocket Aces. The flop contains an Ace. Yes!!! Now all I need to win the $2000 promotion is for the turn or river to pair the board. My heart was really pounding. ]

As I look at the January promotion schedule from my favorite poker room (Charles Town), it is amazing to see that some type of promotion is offered on 29/31 days! Subject promotions include various high hands, random seat drawings, and earned "ticket" drawings. Some are as small as $100 per hour because they are on days and at times turnout is generally light. More popular days like Fridays and Saturdays the High Hand promotions run 1:00-8:00 p.m. and pay $400 per hour. With rollovers possible throughout the day and possible sudden death when the promotions end, ALL of the indicated promotion monies are guaranteed to be paid out.

While I recognize that we the players involuntarily fund promotions thru higher rake and perhaps a $1 drag from each winning pot, I like it when poker rooms offer promotions that payout frequently which allows a greater number of players to benefit.
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Old 01-10-2019, 08:31 PM   #2
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i agree 100% and so does the lion.

back in the beginning in the old room under the grandstand, ct used to be quad 2s for the bbj.

one time though a notorious player known as the Tysons corner slow roller hit it in a ridiculous manner with runner-runner quad 5s in a 3/6 game where he was clearly beaten on the flop...… and then stiffed the dealers!

ct responded by raising the requirements to quad 7s.

best of luck in 2019!!
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Old 01-24-2019, 08:38 PM   #3
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Vegas Poker Rakes

Saw this elsewhere:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/las-v...-question.html
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Old 02-01-2019, 11:17 AM   #4
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sad morning as last night was my final evening as a caesars diamond member.

I have now plummeted all the way to gold.

it was a good run though!!
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Old 02-18-2019, 11:25 AM   #5
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The worst thing about that post is where the poster says "no more tokes for the dealers".


So because the casino is overcharging the players, make the dealers suffer? People who are paid 9 bucks an hour and didn't have anything to do with the decision of the casino to up the rake?


That's basically a classic compulsive gambler response to this situation. If they increase the rake, don't play! And encourage others not to play either. THAT is the only action that affects the casino's bottom line. But we can't do that, because we have to gamble. So we'll punish the dealers instead.
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Old 03-17-2019, 03:13 PM   #6
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neeme @ mdlive!

the legendary charm city whiz has moved on to mgm and I've become addicted to bad jobs and shoveling snow but the show goes on at Maryland live! where they've even added a hotel.

huge Andrew neeme game:

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Old 06-10-2019, 08:56 AM   #7
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It has been very quiet here, so I thought I would post the near mid-term status of my play so far this year:

Net from playing Sessions = -516
Total Playing Hours = 527.0
Hourly Rate = - $0.98

Results achieved playing mostly 1/2 NL, with a few occasional 1/3 NL games. Also played in a Spread Limit game ($2-$100) for the first time when I was on the road. Still working to push the hourly rate into the profitable zone.

The above statistics do not include High Hand and other promotions of $1400, because they are basically due to luck.

About 6 weeks ago I was a part of the following hand:
Flop comes 6-2-8 with two clubs. Three players including myself go All In before the turn. My opponents have pocket 6's and pocket 2's respectively, while I have pocket 8's. The Turn and River yield blanks and I win the extremely rare set over set over set!

I also saw proximity a few weeks ago at Charles Town in what is now a rare sighting. Seems his activity is almost non-existent due to an extremely busy work schedule. Not sure what Charm City Whizz is up to these days, perhaps still dealing, and playing at other local poker rooms.


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Old 06-11-2019, 02:45 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Track Collector View Post

I also saw proximity a few weeks ago at Charles Town in what is now a rare sighting. Seems his activity is almost non-existent due to an extremely busy work schedule. Not sure what Charm City Whizz is up to these days, perhaps still dealing, and playing at other local poker rooms.


I wish I wouldn't have said anything about that day because you weren't feeling well and may have stayed home?

you're doing great though with that many hours and can still turn it around and win straight up for the year!
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Old 06-11-2019, 11:38 AM   #9
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I wish I wouldn't have said anything about that day because you weren't feeling well and may have stayed home?

you're doing great though with that many hours and can still turn it around and win straight up for the year!

I felt fine that day, so I'm really glad you told me your visit plans. Seems we don't meet up often enough these days! And after all, YOU were my inspiration to give Texas Holdem poker a try in the first place!!
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Old 06-15-2019, 08:52 AM   #10
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home me take roads country.....

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Originally Posted by Track Collector View Post

I also saw proximity a few weeks ago at Charles Town in what is now a rare sighting. Seems his activity is almost non-existent due to an extremely busy work schedule.
"extremely busy" would be a nice break, but starting to doubt the annual vegas trip to bally's and the blu pool I decided to take a vacation day for this old school run to charles town.


I get up early and it's a great feeling to hear the birds chirping and to breathe in the crisp morning air while anticipating the possible fortunes that the day will bring.

but (as usual) my euphoria is short lived.

halfway to the racino I stop at a denny's to grab a grand slam breakfast and some coffee. i'm trying to remember my starting hand chart as a baby at the next table screams in my ear. this is about the highlight of the trip.

it's a Saturday at ct but apparently the old 3/6 game is dead? I never even see a list for it and take a seat against track collector's rivals at 1/2 no limit.

unfortunately I pick up where the old tour left off. I get 9 4 literally dozens of times but rarely look down at any decent hands over the 6 1/2 hour contest.

i get AK twice.

the first time i flop a king and river trips but am beaten heads up by a flopped flush.

the second time ace high with a king beats ace high with a nine.

obviously a net loss on the day with AK.

with 65 of clubs on the button i do get a nice flop of 66T rainbow.

two callers follow me to the turn where (of course) we see another dime.

i check behind the other two players and the player to my immediate right bets the river.

i pause here and actually get lucky when my hesitation causes the first to act player to fold out of turn, leaving me heads up with the cutoff who has nothing when i make the call.

over at the track it all comes down to silver castle in the finale.

http://www.equibase.com/premium/char...19&cy=USA&rn=8

on the ride up 81 i kick myself for my beyeresque aggression; not getting at least a saver exacta with favored meltech, but despite the lousy results it was refreshing to get out of work for a day and i even got to see master track collector in action!

thank you for reading!!

game -177 (1/2 nl)
year -177 (0-1)

Last edited by proximity; 06-15-2019 at 08:57 AM.
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Old 06-30-2019, 01:40 PM   #11
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major night at charles town??

ok poker fans, our next report finds us back on the road again at charles town races, the site of our drubbing in the season opener.

in a tradition that may need to change I once again brave a route 81 denny's that's about halfway between "Hollywood" empires pen and ct. for about a minute I get to savor my grand slam breakfast (although i'm STILL waiting for the coffee I ordered to wash it down) when what looks to be the honey boo boo family reunion is given the booths and tables right next to me in an otherwise empty restaurant.

so it's "check please" and i'll get my coffee at charles town races where it's going to be a major night in the sportsbook as none other than mountaineer legend #9 MAJOR HARRIS will be making a live appearance to remind the wvu faithful of better days!

over in the card room i'm trying to remember better days myself as I struggle to get anything going against a table of absolute sharks. crazy pineapple players, "2/5" men, teachers of the game..... if you can't spot the sucker in the first 30 minutes, then you ARE the sucker the gentleman said.

i'm down about $50 when at a neighboring table I spot one of the most dangerous sharks of all in these hostile west virginia waters; our very own TRACK COLLECTOR!!

"the collector" is in the one seat and when the two opens up I jump at the opportunity to get a bird's eye view of his play.

but it's proximity who immediately strikes with KQs and JJ in the first two hands before quickly moving back ahead for the day with a set of 6s.

with AA i'm three bet by a player to my left who has just joined the game and is still unracking his chips.

"all-in," I say and he calls with KK.

when an 8 x y flop runs out ace 8, I get not only his stack but take the lead in charles town's high hand with 90 seconds to go!!!!!

and suddenly right as the brashear bullet is taking his seat over in the sportsbook it could also be a major night in the poker room!!

alas, however, after a quiet hour of nothingness, quad 5s come in right at the buzzer to sink our ship.

eventually I get a little tired and decide to rack up but our hero TRACK COLLECTOR soldiers on into the wee hours of the morning where he retires with a $192 win to put him back ahead for the 2019 campaign!!!!!!!!!

a major night at charles town indeed!

thank you for reading.

game plus 309 (1/2 nl)
year plus 139 (2-1)

Last edited by proximity; 06-30-2019 at 01:43 PM.
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Old 07-01-2019, 12:39 AM   #12
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A couple of losing sessions have since put me on the red side again for 2019 to-date. But as the saying goes.......hope springs eternal.

While I am not aware of how one would calculate the odds, you must have had something like a 99.5% chance or even higher to hit the High Hand promotion having qualified with about 90 seconds to go. Definitely a bad break!

I'm glad you changed tables to come sight right to my left. It allowed for MUCH more interaction that would not have been possible if we were at separate tables. Hope to see you again soon my friend!
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Old 08-12-2019, 10:34 PM   #13
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Time for another status report.

I went thru another "cooler" period in late June / early July which had me losing $1311 and (hopefully) bottoming out at a -$1.97 per hour rate.

Since that time I have been on a "heater", with 15 out of 19 winning sessions. One of the losing sessions was last night with a -$201 result due mostly in part to a pre-flop All-in with pocket Kings and running into pocket Aces, which is going to happen from time to time.

My current year-to-date statistics:

Net from playing Sessions = $2140
Total Playing Hours = 681.6
Hourly Rate = $3.14
Promotions Won (not included in the above figures) = $1850

While no where close to what a part-time job might pay, I'm having a great time with my poker activity. A downward trend may only be around the corner, but hopefully good play can minimize this when it does happen. I am also going to continue to work on improving my skills.

I am going on a long race track driving trip, and I hope to get in some poker activity at the Bangor Raceway (in Maine) this coming weekend.

Perhaps in the future I can try to share some interesting hands, but my ability to remember and make interesting reading is far from our excellent proximity!

As James "SplitSuit" Sweeney likes to say, Happy Grinding!
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Old 08-13-2019, 06:31 PM   #14
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Time for another status report.

I went thru another "cooler" period in late June / early July which had me losing $1311 and (hopefully) bottoming out at a -$1.97 per hour rate.

Since that time I have been on a "heater", with 15 out of 19 winning sessions. One of the losing sessions was last night with a -$201 result due mostly in part to a pre-flop All-in with pocket Kings and running into pocket Aces, which is going to happen from time to time.

My current year-to-date statistics:

Net from playing Sessions = $2140
Total Playing Hours = 681.6
Hourly Rate = $3.14
Promotions Won (not included in the above figures) = $1850

While no where close to what a part-time job might pay,
I'm having a great time with my poker activity. A downward trend may only be around the corner, but hopefully good play can minimize this when it does happen. I am also going to continue to work on improving my skills.

I am going on a long race track driving trip, and I hope to get in some poker activity at the Bangor Raceway (in Maine) this coming weekend.

Perhaps in the future I can try to share some interesting hands, but my ability to remember and make interesting reading is far from our excellent proximity!

As James "SplitSuit" Sweeney likes to say, Happy Grinding!
All you need to do is move your action over to the 10/20NL tables.
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Old 08-13-2019, 07:07 PM   #15
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All you need to do is move your action over to the 10/20NL tables.
Nope. I'm a Kid and will stay in the "Kiddie Pool". No long-range plans to move into 2/5 either.

I still have SO MUCH to learn.

AND, because I exclusively play live, I could still be a breakeven or even losing player when enough hands are played to let the variance even out.
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