argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Anyone played the 5/10 or 10/20 here? I went to argosy's with a few friends yesterday just to mess around with some roulette/slots, thinking that there wasn't any poker here, but as I was about to leave I noticed the poker tables. There were three 5/10 and one 10/20 tables running at the time. There aren't many live options for me near where I live, pretty much just Rockford Charitable Games (which is kind of sloppy and the highest game is 5/10) and Hollywood Casino in Aurora, which I haven't been to but I've read that there are long waitlists and its in general not a very good casino. I've done a search but there wasn't that much in the threads that I read, and I've read the PokerWiki entry. Anyone have any other info, ie waitlists, game quality, etc? I'm especially interested in the 10/20 game, and if they ever spread anything higher than 10/20.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

I haven't played in the game, but a couple people I play with at Trump and Resorts play there regularly. It is apparantly 11-handed, and lots of action.

-Ash

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

The 5/10 game is very loose, while the 10/20 seems much tighter. On Sunday's, they run 5/10 NL (max buyin $500) which gathers quite a crowd. Be sure to phone ahead as most of the games there have a long wait.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

my girlfriend and i made a trip to the empress and holywood to check them out. it would have been day dime during the week and the 10/20 was a little tight at times but not bad. holywood had long lists but the games were really good, 5/10, 10-20, and a 20/40 that seemed to be an 'old timer' day time game that broke before it got to late in the night. i only got to sit there for about 2 hours and there was enough action for me. i would like to make it to east chicago to check out those poker rooms soon.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

got any pictures of this "girlfriend" ?? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Hollywood is a pain in the ___ room. Obviously you didn't arrive upon the usual scenario.."ten players reading newspapers, magazines, or watching tv, because the "house" won't open a game.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

I live right down the road from the Empress, and just heard something about a NL game they are starting. Anyone have any details on this? Supposedly it's only on Sundays, anyone know blinds, time charge, etc? How is the game in general? I'm thinking of heading out next weekend.

Still haven't gotten out to any of the Gary rooms, is it worth the hour or so drive on a weeknight? How late do their tables usually stay open, and what limits do they post on a weeknight?

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Someone else's impressions: http://poker.wikicities.com/wiki/Empress

I played the first week it opened in fall 2004 and found it an absolutely heavenly $5/10 game. Alas, i'm not really bankrolled for $5/10....

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

The two Gary rooms are the best in the Chicago area. About 45 tables between them, much better selection of games, shorter waits, can find a game round the clock. On a weeknight, Trump will have 3-6, 2-5 NL and maybe a 6-12. Resorts will have 5-10 NL, 5-10 and 10-20. I will drive 2.5 hours to play there.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Resorts in E. Chicago spreads 20/40 games that can vary greatly but are usually good and once in a while a 40/80 game.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

I play the Empress 5/10 1 or 2 times a week. They spread 5/10 and 10/20 limit, and 5/10 NL on Sunday nights.

The 5/10 is almost always terrific. Like the Wiki says, 6-7 to a flop--PF raise or not--is common. You'll be astonished at the cards players table at showdown. This game is straight out of Miller's SSHE.

I tried the 10/20 once and found it to be crazy loose. I think the game can be tighter, but that particular day it seemed to be a LAG fest--a good thing, to be sure, but I wasn't sufficiently bankrolled to compete. I found the players there to be better and trickier, too.

I've never played the Sunday night NL. The buy-in is $200-500, but with blinds of 5/10, you probably want $500, especially if you are seated late and find yourself flanked by big stacks. Signing up early seems to be advisable, so ask a floorperson how this is handled. They used to allow sign ups as early as the Wednesday before, but I'm not sure if this is still the case.

The waitlists seem to be getting longer for the limit games, too. Recently the room has created a must-move 5/10 table and 2 regular tables. You definitely should call ahead before heading there.

Regarding the Hollywood, I played there once and found the 5/10 to be fine. The room is bigger and more games are spread, but I defer to the opinions of others as I don't make it up to Aurora much.

Good luck if you decide to drop by.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

5/10NL with a max of 500!?!?! that's rediculous! That reminds me of Oneida casino in Green Bay, WI that has a 2/5NL with a max buy-in of 100, with a "tip the dealer a dollar and buy-in for another 100." effectively a 2/5NL with a 199 max buy-in.

how is the play on this 5/10NL table? all fish?

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

I really don't know, as I rarely play live NL. I was there playing 5/10 one Sunday night and observed the NL crowd coming in. Lots of WSOP caps, mirrored shades, fancy card protectors, etc. But I couldn't really gauge the quality of the players from my table.

Seriously, try the 5/10 limit. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Wow, I checked the thread the day after I posted, there were no replies so I thought no one had been here before...thanks for the replies everyone. I'll likely be going to argosy sometime this weekend or next week, and post any thoughts when I get back. I've only really played at Rockford Charitable Games (which isn't a real casino anyway), so I won't have much to compare to. I'll play the 10/20 and probably try out the 5/10 as well...my RCG 5/10 table last week was the best I've played at since online .5/1, so it will be interesting seeing which 5/10 game has worse players. One last question, is there any time/day of the week where the 5/10 or 10/20 tends to runs shorthanded (6 players or less)?

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Late nights/early mornings, the 5/10 usually has a handful of derelicts playing until the room closes. Sometimes Monday-Thursday between 3 and 6 pm (when the retirees hit the early bird, I guess) the games get short, but lately the room has been busy during the day.

The 10/20 often breaks up by midnight. It depends on who's playing. I've been there before at 6 pm and seen the table empty.

Maybe I'll see you there. Good luck again.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

What time does the Sunday NL start?

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

OK...I know this topic so I'll chime in.

The empress and Hollywood suck for live experience, but rate quite high for fish and lucrativeness. Hell, I made a living playing 5/10 games in the area for quite a few months. The empress plays 11-handed. It fills quickly. The list can be hours. It thins out late at night as Illinois closes its boats/poker rooms. Total donk-fest. Straight SSHE with no FPS will win $$$$$. It gets really boring if you are used to multi-tabling online and playing games where bluffing is an actual component. You'll have 5-7 players on every flop. Maybe once per day does it get folded around to the blinds. Heads-up showdowns are a little more common, but still atypical. the 10/20 is slightly better, but still far below a 1/2 online game at Party.

I played every day for a few months at Hollywood. The $6 rake is a killer, so be ready for that. The place is a donk-fest at 5/10. You'll find the usual 3-4 people who play any two suited, any unsuited connectors, etc and have no regard for position or cold-calling a raise with marginal values. The 10/20 game gets better, but only due to a steady core of 'regulars' who at worst break-even and a few who actually make money. The 20/40, when it plays, is very juicy for a 20/40 game. But, again, that depends on who shows.

I've never been to Trump.

I've played fifty or so times at Resorts (Old Harrah's). Loved it...5/10 and 10/20 were easy pickings.

If you know the basics of SSHE, you'll kill these games.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

i wemt to the Trump last week and played the 6/12 with a 10/20 kill. they kept moving me around and i was getting pissed off. but the games were very good with about 6 fish (3 2+2'ers at the table, you do the math). the rake is 10% up to $5 and if the game goes 6 handed they reduce it. there was one very bad and slow dealer the rest were great. to give you an idea about the players.. some lady called me down with 47 against my AQ, board was 4K9K9. the dealer had to explain to the table why i won. my third hand some kid declares that he is playing blind. i watched him and he didnt look. i raise QQ in EP and it gets HU. he raises all-in (7 bets) and MHIG.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

Haven't been to Empress, but go to Hollywood "fairly" regularly. My 2 cents:

The good: Both the 5/10 and 10/20 play about equivalent to 0.5/1 or (at best) 1/2 online. Seriously, the 10/20 game probably averages 4-5 to the flop, and still 3+ to a raise. Great games.

The bad: It's a small room, and they're very cognizant to when they can make more money at the other table games. There is a fixed # of "table seats" they can have active at one time, and poker isn't as profitable as the other table games for them, so, during the busy times, they close down one, or two, of the 6 tables. Of course, the busy times are also the busy times for the poker, which means the list can get really long...I've seen it with 45 names on it.

Basically, if you can go earlier, it's better.

Hope that helps.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

[ QUOTE ]
Haven't been to Empress, but go to Hollywood "fairly" regularly. My 2 cents:

The good: Both the 5/10 and 10/20 play about equivalent to 0.5/1 or (at best) 1/2 online. Seriously, the 10/20 game probably averages 4-5 to the flop, and still 3+ to a raise. Great games.

The bad: It's a small room, and they're very cognizant to when they can make more money at the other table games. There is a fixed # of "table seats" they can have active at one time, and poker isn't as profitable as the other table games for them, so, during the busy times, they close down one, or two, of the 6 tables. Of course, the busy times are also the busy times for the poker, which means the list can get really long...I've seen it with 45 names on it.

Basically, if you can go earlier, it's better.

Hope that helps.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is good info. I'll have to check it out sometime.

When you would say the "busy" times start there?

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

All weekends are pretty busy from about noon til they close (last deal is 3:30a).

Weekdays it gets busy around 5ish. I work, but on days where I feel like playing live, I'll leave work at 4ish, get there by 4:30 or so, and I'm usually playing NO LATER than 6 (sometimes sooner).

As an aside, on weekends, they usually put out a sheet of paper (ie. the list) even before the casino opens. I've sometimes shown up at 9, put my name on the list as one of first 10, and then went to get breakfast.

Also, like you'd expect, holidays are tough to get tables.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

I went to the empress yesterday and played the 10/20 and 5/10 for about 6 hours. I'll echo everything myturn2raise says here, very soft games. the 5/10 is easier than .5/1 online, i'd say average 7 to the flop or so, and it seems like no raises PF, ever. it is generally passive postflop as well, some people not even raising trips on very harmless boards at any point in a hand, stuff like that. A retarded monkey could beat this game. The 10/20 is a little less easy, but still many bad, passive, predictable players. A raise PF from most of the players usually means AA-QQ and thats it. The 10/20 is a bit tighter, probably average 5 to the flop, and a bit tighter to PF raises. I'd say its at about a .5/1 online table at best. These players suck at full, but suck even more shorthanded, they don't adjust and just let you beat down on them, never really playing back. Even the one decent player at my 10/20 table didn't adjust properly when it got short. If you like playing SH then I'd recommend going around 11 PM-12 AM or later, as that is when people start to leave and the games get short, especially 10/20 since there is no feeder table like there is for 5/10. However, depending on the night it may stay full for awhile, my 10/20 got short at around 12 AM or so and heads up, me and some other guy at around 1 AM, but the night before I was told they had a full table going at around 3 or 4 AM. I'm guessing it also runs short right after it opens in the morning, at like 7 am or so.

As for the general experience, I liked it, although I've only been to rockford charitable games before so I don't have much to compare to. The floorsperson seemed to know what he was doing and was nice in general. A lot of the 10/20 players seem to be regulars and know each other and the dealers pretty well. The dealers were ok, better than at RCG but a few of them got confused on split pots, dealing order when it was HU, etc. As far as I know I think there is free pop but thats it, other drinks, food etc is not comped.

If you plan on going multiple times I'd get the players club card or whatever its called (its free), once you go a few times they will start giving you free hotel room stays, free $15, and probably other stuff. I'd also call ahead of time to get on the waiting list, especially if you plan on playing 10/20. I called two hours before to get on the 10/20 waitlist and had to wait about 30 minutes after I got there, and most of the evening there were 2-4 names on the waitlist. the 5/10 has a feeder game so there tends to not be a waitlist, or you don't have to wait much at all.

Re: argosy\'s empress casino - joliet IL
 

[ QUOTE ]
What time does the Sunday NL start?

[/ QUOTE ]

empress has 5/10 NL, 200 min 500 max IIRC, starting at 6 PM on sundays.