Congratulations! You just became the manager of a Vegas poker room!

[J.A.Sucker]

Having a well-defined drop schedule makes it seem fair to the players. They don't like having to grovel for a break or feel like they are getting screwed if the floor doesn't do it. Also, MAKE THE GAME A TIME GAME. This keeps games going, especially short. Time pots may not make sense at 30-60, but if players want to do it, let them.

The host is key here, I think. Make sure they are fun to play with and will ensure that people have fun. If the regulars are nitty/annoying, it's the host's job to make sure they back off. That's part of the job.

[*TT*]

[ QUOTE ]
Spread any game, anytime. Even if it's two people who want to play headsup. Don't worry about the stakes or the game. Once you get a reputation for doing WHATEVER THE PLAYERS WANT, you win. While the rotation players seem to be hurting you, it doesn't matter. You want players and games. In this case, you are getting both. Action brings more action.

[/ QUOTE ]

As Mason has pointed out in the past this can actually be bad for a card room in the long run if they are struggling to establish pertinent games (I don't believe it is a concern when there are no competing games and/or limits, - ala Bellagio's highest games that are not in Bobby's Room). The OP shows a good example of this, the 30/60 game would go off more often if the rotation game does not, many of the better 30/60 players like rotation, once they switch the 30/60 game might break. Game preservation is the #1 fiscal responsibility of the floor, I don't think we can ignore this factor.

[ QUOTE ]
Call players on the phone letting them know when a game is ready to get down. Cali cardrooms do this all the time for bigger games. The guys to call are people who play every day and who live close. I don't think most places in Vegas do this.

[/ QUOTE ] - the room we are discussing will do this, its on the agenda for accepted ideas. The player must have a trust relationship with the floor of course, they wont do this with everyone.

[ QUOTE ]
Don't employ props, but you may want to get a host. They usually get a piece of the drop, but they should be amiable guys who like to play and who will keep others playing. They usually do the hustling for the game and will call known players (both live ones and good players). The best hosts are small winners but players who like to gamble. Make sure they have a good bankroll so they don't go broke. Maybe allow the host to comp a nice bottle of wine to the table once a night. Players like these things.

Give players a break on the juice (take time in the 30 and larger games, by the way).

Have good service. Let the players order food at the tables. You may want to subsidize this or even comp it, depending on cost.

[/ QUOTE ]

all excellent ideas. You want a job full time? I hear your not very good at poker [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
Again, let the players run the games more. Stay out of most anything. Did I mention to let the players run the games? Trust me, people will LOVE this.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes players like yourself or me will love this, but its not necessarily good for the long term vitality of the room.

Question: If the 30/60 and 60/120 games are firml established, and higher limit games are also moving to this room, whats next? Should the staff reduce the number of 4/8 games or remove 1/2 NL to encourage nothing but higher limit play?

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[Don Olney]

TT,
Only way to get a regular 30/60 going is to have a feeder off of a few 15/30 games. No regular 15/30 - the 30/60 will die.
As for playing short handed, many of us will with the right mix short handed. It does no good to have 5 or 6 very good players sitting around beating each other up. Thus the need for the feeder game.
Even at the "B" on any given night, you will not see a bunch of locals sitting around playing each other short handed.

Offering comp $$ at a higher rate to the 30/60 players is not the answer. That will only carry the game so far.

You need to step back on your "jump right into 30/60".
Build a solid 15/30 player base, the 30/60 player will follow.

Also, thinking of local working "pros" as NITS is not the way to attract the crowd.

[*TT*]

[ QUOTE ]
Having a well-defined drop schedule makes it seem fair to the players. They don't like having to grovel for a break or feel like they are getting screwed if the floor doesn't do it. Also, MAKE THE GAME A TIME GAME. This keeps games going, especially short. Time pots may not make sense at 30-60, but if players want to do it, let them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its a time game already, but I wonder if that would be adventitious at the lower level of 15/30 as well. In AC the game levels switch to time much earlier than they do in LV - it would be breaking the mold but it may encourage a greater 15/30 base. Hmmm.... I like. I also think having the dealer collect time from time pots rather than having a player put it up is a fantastic solution.

The job offer still stand for you Sucker, you seem to know what you are doing.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[steamboatin]

[ QUOTE ]
At least Steam's solution was fully thought out... well done young man!

TT

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL, I don't for sure but I bet I have ten years and a 100 lbs on you.

PS. Now that you are the new Donald, let me know if I need to go kick Rosie in the Nuts for you. I think she had some installed.

[bav]

Happy Hour. 4pm to 6pm daily, 30/60 runs without rake (adjust the specific hours based on when the game has any chance of starting). Half rake 6pm to 7pm. Full rake after 7pm, but full means no timecharge for <=5 players, half for 6 or 7 players, full for 8 or 9 players. Give that 6mo to run before trying to tweak to increase revenue and tweak very slowly when you do.

[DeathDonkey]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Having a well-defined drop schedule makes it seem fair to the players. They don't like having to grovel for a break or feel like they are getting screwed if the floor doesn't do it. Also, MAKE THE GAME A TIME GAME. This keeps games going, especially short. Time pots may not make sense at 30-60, but if players want to do it, let them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its a time game already, but I wonder if that would be adventitious at the lower level of 15/30 as well. In AC the game levels switch to time much earlier than they do in LV - it would be breaking the mold but it may encourage a greater 15/30 base. Hmmm.... I like. I also think having the dealer collect time from time pots rather than having a player put it up is a fantastic solution.

The job offer still stand for you Sucker, you seem to know what you are doing.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The last time I played 30/60 at this place, it took 15 minutes at least to have a qualifying time pot and nitted up the game ridiculously. This can be a real concern when the games are semi-nitty anyway. The AC way of taking half the time from two pots instead of all from one may be better. It's possible time pots are inferior to just paying for non-nittification purposes but I like time pots in general (though the policy at this place where a player needs to pay the time first out of his stack and then is reimbursed by the winner of the pot is convoluted - it needs to be where the dealer takes the time from the qualifying pot (Bellagio way) or the winner of the pot pays the time to the dealer (Commerce way)).

-DeathDonkey

[RR]

I have skimmed this thread and want to point out something that people are way off on. Competing across rake is a losing proposition. As Mason pointed out years ago "People will play in your room if the games are good." Starting a rake war attracts a heavy concentration of players that are bad for the game. For these games to be successful you need to make them appeal to your hotel guests. I am have some very specific ideas about how I would spread these games, but I won't be sharing them here.

[xxx]

I don't think rake arguments are the key at this level.

What the room needs is a live game. Something to bring in a constant flow of live tourists - the locals will find their way to your room.

I am going to suggest a mix of sex and prestige not found in the other rooms.

First, prestige:
Have a walled off room with huge glass windows so everyone can see inside, but giving a sense of privacy. Have a LIVE internet feed of the table (perhaps holecards, perhaps not). Advertise the game as a way to win at the worldwide famous game, amaze your friends. Send a super fancy invitation card to out of town players (perhaps some comp, perhaps not). Provide some token after an afternoon's play (I survived the XXX big game hat, or something like that.) Create a special atmosphere. Have really nice chairs and tables in the room.

2nd: sex
Hot waitresses that hit the "big game" often. Big smiles from them - make the players want to go there. Sharp dealers that are all business. Make the players feel like they imagine a visit to the playboy mansion would be like.

[*TT*]

[ QUOTE ]


The last time I played 30/60 at this place, it took 15 minutes at least to have a qualifying time pot and nitted up the game ridiculously. This can be a real concern when the games are semi-nitty anyway. The AC way of taking half the time from two pots instead of all from one may be better. It's possible time pots are inferior to just paying for non-nittification purposes but I like time pots in general (though the policy at this place where a player needs to pay the time first out of his stack and then is reimbursed by the winner of the pot is convoluted - it needs to be where the dealer takes the time from the qualifying pot (Bellagio way) or the winner of the pot pays the time to the dealer (Commerce way)).

-DeathDonkey

[/ QUOTE ]

Bellagio/WSOP way where the dealer takes time out of the pot is best IMHO, as long as the time pot split between two hands - AC style as you pointed out.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]