Kansas City (1 Viewer)

[raynmanas]

headed there for work in a few weeks. i love to play local when i travel, but i've never been here before. so what's my best bet for some weeknight games - harrah's or hollywood?

 

[quintooo]

@Chawks45

 

[Brandon]

Never played poker in KC but if you hit other table games I’ve gotten murdered at harrahs and always find a way to win at Argosy. I’ve had 3/4 best winning sessions at Argosy.

 

[raynmanas]

if you hit other table games

i do not (anymore).

 

[Chawks45]

headed there for work in a few weeks. i love to play local when i travel, but i've never been here before.

It's too bad you missed the time when KC had five -- five! -- poker rooms (Harrah's, Ameristar, Argosy, Isle of Capri KC and Hollywood) during the mid-2000's poker boom, @raynmanas. Wednesday nights at Ameristar was the place to be because a vast majority of Harrah's dealers would play there. Argosy is literally down the street from Harrah's and a lot of players used to go there if Harrah's was packed, but Argosy along with Ameristar closed the poker room during COVID and never reopened. Ameristar was a good poker room, used to host the Heartland tour.

Now, it's down to Harrah's and Hollywood with poker rooms.

Back on subject before I get too nostalgic on what once was.

so what's my best bet for some weeknight games - harrah's or hollywood?

Depends on the weeknight, for sure, and you'll want to check your Bravo app. Both casinos allow you to get on the wait list if you have a Caesars rewards card for Harrah's, mychoice for Hollywood, and they're linked to Bravo.

Harrah's: Thursday nights can get pretty wild. This night has also started to draw the weekend regs as word spread how crazy it's been. You are allowed to match the big stack at Harrah's.

Harrah's does 2/5/10 games on Thursday and I want to say there's also a 4/8 limit game during the week, depending on interest. Most aren't interested in the latter, though. They all go to Hollywood for that.

Depending on player interest, Harrah's will run a double-board PLO bomb pot table. They're supposed to do a BP every time there's a dealer change at this table, but most of the degens will ask for nothing but bomb pots. During the weekends, the bomb pot table is typically the feeder to the 2/5 games, which sometimes can play like 5/10 depending on which regs are at the table. Other than Thursday night at Harrah's, it's mostly chill. You'll miss the Friday-Saturday action crowd.

If you're diamond status with Caesars, no need to call ahead or get on the waitlist via Bravo. Harrah's bumps you to the top of the waitlist when you check in. Diamond for the win.

Hollywood: This casino does tournaments Monday, Tuesday (morning and evening, which is a bounty format), Thursday (morning and evening bounty) and Sunday. This poker room tends to draw the money from the rich folks of Johnson County on the Kansas side of KC.

Of note here for smaller stakes, Hollywood does 1/3. You will have more options for games here, ranging from 20/40 PLO hi-lo on Tuesday and Thursday, and they also run 4/8 limit games I want to say on Mondays and Wednesdays. They do a 1/2 ROE on Tuesday and 2/5 with a rock on Fridays. You are also allowed to match the big stack at any game at Hollywood. They recently changed it from 75% of the big stack after hearing complaints of, "They allow us to match stacks at Harrah's!" all the time. Squeaky wheels got the grease, and all that.

In summation, when folks ask me which one I prefer, I often say this: If I want action, which is most of the time, I go to Harrah's. The crowd is also younger and there are often 3- and 4-bet pots before the flop, especially at the 2/5 tables.

If I want a rare relaxing game, I go to Hollywood. And about Hollywood, it can get maddening if you're an action player. You can raise pre and still get what we locals call the "Kansas City Heads Up" because five players passively call the original raiser. Nothing cracks me up more at a table after a raise and dealer saracastically says, "Six to the flop." Screw that - squeeze that MoFo after the fourth flat!

One last thing - where are you staying? This might be a consideration for you.

Harrah's is easily accessible if you're staying downtown. Hollywood is on the other side of metro heading west and is right next to the Kansas Speedway.

Hope the above helps and have fun! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions.

 

[raynmanas]

It's too bad you missed the time when KC had five -- five! -- poker rooms (Harrah's, Ameristar, Argosy, Isle of Capri KC and Hollywood) during the mid-2000's poker boom, @raynmanas. Wednesday nights at Ameristar was the place to be because a vast majority of Harrah's dealers would play there. Argosy is literally down the street from Harrah's and a lot of players used to go there if Harrah's was packed, but Argosy along with Ameristar closed the poker room during COVID and never reopened. Ameristar was a good poker room, used to host the Heartland tour.

Now, it's down to Harrah's and Hollywood with poker rooms.

Back on subject before I get too nostalgic on what once was.



Depends on the weeknight, for sure, and you'll want to check your Bravo app. Both casinos allow you to get on the wait list if you have a Caesars rewards card for Harrah's, mychoice for Hollywood, and they're linked to Bravo.

Harrah's: Thursday nights can get pretty wild. This night has also started to draw the weekend regs as word spread how crazy it's been. You are allowed to match the big stack at Harrah's.

Harrah's does 2/5/10 games on Thursday and I want to say there's also a 4/8 limit game during the week, depending on interest. Most aren't interested in the latter, though. They all go to Hollywood for that.

Depending on player interest, Harrah's will run a double-board PLO bomb pot table. They're supposed to do a BP every time there's a dealer change at this table, but most of the degens will ask for nothing but bomb pots. During the weekends, the bomb pot table is typically the feeder to the 2/5 games, which sometimes can play like 5/10 depending on which regs are at the table. Other than Thursday night at Harrah's, it's mostly chill. You'll miss the Friday-Saturday action crowd.

If you're diamond status with Caesars, no need to call ahead or get on the waitlist via Bravo. Harrah's bumps you to the top of the waitlist when you check in. Diamond for the win.

Hollywood: This casino does tournaments Monday, Tuesday (morning and evening, which is a bounty format), Thursday (morning and evening bounty) and Sunday. This poker room tends to draw the money from the rich folks of Johnson County on the Kansas side of KC.

Of note here for smaller stakes, Hollywood does 1/3. You will have more options for games here, ranging from 20/40 PLO hi-lo on Tuesday and Thursday, and they also run 4/8 limit games I want to say on Mondays and Wednesdays. They do a 1/2 ROE on Tuesday and 2/5 with a rock on Fridays. You are also allowed to match the big stack at any game at Hollywood. They recently changed it from 75% of the big stack after hearing complaints of, "They allow us to match stacks at Harrah's!" all the time. Squeaky wheels got the grease, and all that.

In summation, when folks ask me which one I prefer, I often say this: If I want action, which is most of the time, I go to Harrah's. The crowd is also younger and there are often 3- and 4-bet pots before the flop, especially at the 2/5 tables.

If I want a rare relaxing game, I go to Hollywood. And about Hollywood, it can get maddening if you're an action player. You can raise pre and still get what we locals call the "Kansas City Heads Up" because five players passively call the original raiser. Nothing cracks me up more at a table after a raise and dealer saracastically says, "Six to the flop." Screw that - squeeze that MoFo after the fourth flat!

One last thing - where are you staying? This might be a consideration for you.

Harrah's is easily accessible if you're staying downtown. Hollywood is on the other side of metro heading west and is right next to the Kansas Speedway.

Hope the above helps and have fun! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions.

holy hell! thank you so much for the detailed information, this is above and beyond!

i am staying at the residence inn kansas city independence (this is a me thing, i prefer to cook in my room vs. eating out, so i always opt for residence inns). seems to be 15 minutes from either option.

 

[Chawks45]

holy hell! thank you so much for the detailed information, this is above and beyond!

i am staying at the residence inn kansas city independence (this is a me thing, i prefer to cook in my room vs. eating out, so i always opt for residence inns). seems to be 15 minutes from either option.

No problem at all. Happy to help.

FYI since you're staying in Independence - you're close to Arrowhead Stadium, so Harrah's is definitely within a 15-minute drive. Forgot to mention in the earlier post that the lowest stakes at Harrah's is 1/2.

Hollywood is roughly a 25-minute drive straight down 1-70 West. You can't miss the exit signs for Hollywood, which will be the same one for the Kansas Speedway.

I notice you said you prefer to cook, but please give yourself some time to enjoy Kansas City's world-famous barbecue. Jack Stack and Arthur Bryant's are downtown spots. Q39, a favorite spot for Chiefs coach Andy Reid, is close to the Westport area. Regardless where you go, KC barbecue will knock you off your feet. I might be biased, but it's simply the best in the world. OK, I'm biased.

And since you're in Independence, you might want to check out Dixon's Chili, which is famous for being Independence native and former President Harry Truman's favorite go-to spot. It's roughly 5-10 minutes away from Arrowhead Stadium. Dixon's is fantastic. A lot of my co-workers and I used to go there a lot for lunch.

Safe travels!

 

[raynmanas]

please give yourself some time to enjoy Kansas City's world-famous barbecue. Jack Stack and Arthur Bryant's are downtown spots. Q39, a favorite spot for Chiefs coach Andy Reid, is close to the Westport area. Regardless where you go, KC barbecue will knock you off your feet. I might be biased, but it's simply the best in the world. OK, I'm biased.

And since you're in Independence, you might want to check out Dixon's Chili, which is famous for being Independence native and former President Harry Truman's favorite go-to spot. It's roughly 5-10 minutes away from Arrowhead Stadium. Dixon's is fantastic. A lot of my co-workers and I used to go there a lot for lunch.

done and done!