Cash Game Help?… Can I Overcome This Casino Rake? (updated) (2 Viewers)

[Jimulacrum]

@Jimulacrum , Maybe I wasn’t clear… the $7 time rake is per 30 minutes, so $14/hr/person. So for an 8-player table that’s $112/hr collected by the house.

The $5 cap/hand rake would need 22-23 hands seeing a flop with a $50 pot to bring in the same for the house. That’s a hand about every 2.6-2.75 mins, which is probably about right. I’m sure they’ve done the math to make it about even, either way.

Note I have to decide if I’m up for my first 2/5 stakes game.

Oh. Well, that's substantially more. Obviously much closer to the 1/3 game at that rate. If you'd rather stay comfortable at 1/3, that makes sense.

Then again, you could try 2/5.

Don't let me talk you out of it.

No sir.

 

[Goldfish]

Is it the one in Hanover, MD?
If so, that one is 13 miles and about 20-25 minutes from the Conference Center. It might be possible for me.

Yes, Hanover, MD. Much better poker room.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

I went to both the Horseshoe and Live! Maryland yesterday and played 1/3 at each.

Horseshoe sucked.
Good floor manager but the dealers and the game were not good.
Dealers were always yelling across the room to rag on each other… almost as if the game were an afterthought. Game was 100% low end locals who would buy in for $100-$200 and then top off when down, so never much money on the table to win at any one time. Play was either the typical family pot limp fest or an open of $20-25 (!). Really? 7-8x open?

After 2 hours and down $150 I left and went to Live! at 1:30 pm.

What a difference!

Amazing 2-story poker room with ~45-50 tables. Nice manager and staff. Dealers were fast, accurate, and professional, making small talk with players. Players were a mostly friendly locals and some travelers, like me. Nice table talk and joking amongst players. They were constantly opening new tables when the wait list got long and I only had to wait 5 mins even though I was 10th on the list.

Got to sit at an upstairs table which is a bit quieter than the main floor (which I liked). Played 4 hours of good, challenging play— 3-4x open, some 3 bets, appropriate bluffs and value bets. Really nice poker played the way you’d want it.

High hand promo ($400) every 15 mins while I was there but never hit it.

Was up $150, then even, then down $150, then up $100, and finished down $50 to end the session.

Side note: server came by about every 20 mins or so for drink orders, but never partook of the food. The food court of the adjacent mall is 20 ft across from the entrance so I ate there before starting my session.

Happy to have “paid” $50 for 3 hours of a good, solid, enjoyable poker experience. Thanks @Goldfish for the recommendation. Headed back now for a second session.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I went to both the Horseshoe and Live! Maryland yesterday and played 1/3 at each.

Horseshoe sucked.
Good floor manager but the dealers and the game were not good.
Dealers were always yelling across the room to rag on each other… almost as if the game were an afterthought. Game was 100% low end locals who would buy in for $100-$200 and then top off when down, so never much money on the table to win at any one time. Play was either the typical family pot limp fest or an open of $20-25 (!). Really? 7-8x open?

After 2 hours and down $150 I left and went to Live! at 1:30 pm.

What a difference!

Amazing 2-story poker room with ~45-50 tables. Nice manager and staff. Dealers were fast, accurate, and professional, making small talk with players. Players were a mostly friendly locals and some travelers, like me. Nice table talk and joking amongst players. They were constantly opening new tables when the wait list got long and I only had to wait 5 mins even though I was 10th on the list.

Got to sit at an upstairs table which is a bit quieter than the main floor (which I liked). Played 4 hours of good, challenging play— 3-4x open, some 3 bets, appropriate bluffs and value bets. Really nice poker played the way you’d want it.

High hand promo ($400) every 15 mins while I was there but never hit it.

Was up $150, then even, then down $150, then up $100, and finished down $50 to end the session.

Side note: server came by about every 20 mins or so for drink orders, but never partook of the food. The food court of the adjacent mall is 20 ft across from the entrance so I ate there before starting my session.

Happy to have “paid” $50 for 3 hours of a good, solid, enjoyable poker experience. Thanks @Goldfish for the recommendation. Headed back now for a second session.

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Jimulacrum]

View attachment 1500318
View attachment 1500320
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Holy shit the hooker juice on these chips.

 

[Goldfish]

I went to both the Horseshoe and Live! Maryland yesterday and played 1/3 at each.

Horseshoe sucked.
Good floor manager but the dealers and the game were not good.
Dealers were always yelling across the room to rag on each other… almost as if the game were an afterthought. Game was 100% low end locals who would buy in for $100-$200 and then top off when down, so never much money on the table to win at any one time. Play was either the typical family pot limp fest or an open of $20-25 (!). Really? 7-8x open?

After 2 hours and down $150 I left and went to Live! at 1:30 pm.

What a difference!

Amazing 2-story poker room with ~45-50 tables. Nice manager and staff. Dealers were fast, accurate, and professional, making small talk with players. Players were a mostly friendly locals and some travelers, like me. Nice table talk and joking amongst players. They were constantly opening new tables when the wait list got long and I only had to wait 5 mins even though I was 10th on the list.

Got to sit at an upstairs table which is a bit quieter than the main floor (which I liked). Played 4 hours of good, challenging play— 3-4x open, some 3 bets, appropriate bluffs and value bets. Really nice poker played the way you’d want it.

High hand promo ($400) every 15 mins while I was there but never hit it.

Was up $150, then even, then down $150, then up $100, and finished down $50 to end the session.

Side note: server came by about every 20 mins or so for drink orders, but never partook of the food. The food court of the adjacent mall is 20 ft across from the entrance so I ate there before starting my session.

Happy to have “paid” $50 for 3 hours of a good, solid, enjoyable poker experience. Thanks @Goldfish for the recommendation. Headed back now for a second session.

Glad to help. The shoe sucks compared to live. The only good game at the shoe is the 5/5/25 plo game but that is basically private. MGM is good too but far from Baltimore.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

Holy shit the hooker juice on these chips.

Yeah, pretty gross. I think the only reason they don’t stick to each other is because they’re so worn! Bicycle tires one and all.

In for $400, out for $715 at 3 hours … so +$315 (35bb/hr). Nice outcome and really enjoyable. Def recommend Live! Maryland.

Thanks one and all for the advice and encouragement.