Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

I was curious if anyone has any comments on the impact of the HPT event on the Majestic Star II poker room this week. How has the tournament's presence affected the cash games? How have the satellites and qualifiers been?

Any impressions or comments would be appreciated!

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

Last weekend, Saturday when they started the one table sats into the weekly qualifier. They had a $65 for one winner and a $125 for two winners. I played in 2 of the $125 sng sats. Total crapshoot. The blinds escalate every 10min.
It was like an assembly line the sng's would end very quickly 45min-60min.
They had a good turnout for it though.
If I didn't win my buy-ins at the cash table previous I'd be pissed.
I think I would just buy into the qualifier $560.

They did cancle the weekly rebuy tournies they have there. The cash games did not look affected. Haven't been there on the weekdays, but I'm planning on playing in one of the qualifiers this Friday.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

I played the $560 on Monday and it was sick soft. The structure is decent for the first two hours, not terrible for the third hour (after the antes kick in). At that point, there are like 40 people left for 20 seats, and the blinds get a little out of control. The good news is very few people have a clue how to play shortstack tournament poker, or know much satellite strategy.

I didn't have any cards or play very well and I ended up shortstacked and lost a flip to go out 30th or so. I'm going to play again on Thursday.

The $560 took up like 10 tables at the start and was down to 6-7 after two hours. They had the big NL game running on table 1 and a bunch of low NL and limit games going.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

LearnedfromTV,

Thanks for the info.

Question for you. Do they cap it at 100 players?

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

Yes, thanks to both of you for the information. I am planning on playing Thursday evening and Friday. I was thinking I was taking two shots at the $125 to try to make it into the $560. Maybe I should just "take a shot", stretch a little, and just buy into one of the $560's.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

supposed to be capped at 150. i called there yesterday and they said monday only had 97 and they didn't think they would be full for last night's event either. so much for the 500k prize pool.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

BigAL:

If you can afford the 560 I'd go that route.

I think you'll have more of a chance playing craps or roulette than the $125 sit-n-go.
Blinds start at 50/25 and you have 1000chips. 10min blinds.
If you toke the deals $3 you get an extra 200 chips.
After the first 10min you'll be pushing all-in or folding.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

I'm planning to play the $560 on Thursday at 11 AM. When I called they told me that I didn't need to pre-register they expected enough seats to be available.

LearnedfromTV thanks for the report. Glad to hear that most of the players are not experienced at sat or tourney play. The blinds/ante levels do seem absurd. It looks like by the time you are near the bubble the average stack has an M of 5 or less!

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

Thanks for all of the information. Anyone know the status of the two $560's scheduled for Friday?

Also, how often have the $125's been going? In other words, how long is the wait for a 125? I plan to get to the casino sometime mid-afternoon.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

i have called there everyday this week, and from what they are telling me, the $560's have not been full to this point. the guy i spoke with yesterday (at about 4:00 pm) said they were only getting 90 to 100 players, and said they had about 25 signed up for last nights event. you need to sign up on site and it is cash only. it appears one can't really get much info on future events as many seem to be registering right before these things start. i would assume thurs. night and friday's qualifiers will be more full, but i guess we will find out when we show up. it will suck to drive an hour and a half and get shut out.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

[ QUOTE ]
the guy i spoke with yesterday (at about 4:00 pm) said they were only getting 90 to 100 players,

[/ QUOTE ]

I understand the tournaments are 200 max. I will be there tonight.

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

I played in Thursday's 11 AM qualifier and here are a few general observations.

Play at my table was fairly soft with lots of limping during the first 4 rounds. But if you raised after limpers you almost always got one or two callers and they could have anything. Lots of people chasing flush draws (and hitting), playing any two suited, raising with small pairs and playing any Ax.

About 40% of the players had a good understanding of short stack play and sat. strategy. I saw two people holding copies of HOH 1 (LOL).

The blind/ante levels are brutal and the game becomes an all-in-fest after the break.

We started with 72 players - so 14 seats on Saturday - and were down to about 40 at the first break.

With 2 minutes left to level 5 (400/800/100) and the blinds about to increase to 500/1,000/200 I caught AKo on the button and re-raised allin with my 11,000 stack. The early raiser - who had been playing a lot of hands - sat there for a few minutes unsure of what to do. He kept muttering "why would he push all in". After about 3 minutes he finally called me with 99 and caught a boat. I was out in 34th place. That's poker!

Re: Heartland Poker Tour at Majestic Star?
 

Sounds almost exactly like my experience last week at the Heartland at Grand Casino Mille Lacs Minnesota.

Same level. Guy to my left raises to 3000. Folds around to me. I go all in with AA. He calls with 99. 9 on the river...