First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

I've been playing online for about a year and I'm going to make my first brick and mortar trip this weekend to the Borgata. I've been exclusively playing STTs online, but I plan on playing cash games on Saturday and an MTT on Sunday.

My question is this - how long of a wait should I be expecting to get into a $1/$2 table on Saturday afternoon/evening? I should probably ask to confirm that the Borgata has tables at this low of a level. If not, what's the lowest level ring game they have?

Thanks.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

lowest ring there is 2/4 limit and 1/2 NL (60-300 buyin).

Wait, probably not that long (like 15 mins or less) assuming its like last weekend. There will be 20ish 1/2 tables probably, and a handful of 2/4 and 3/6 limit games.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Great - thanks!

One more question (didn't see anything in the FAQ about this). What's the general thought on buy-in for a $1/$2 NL ring game? If the allowed amount is $60 - $300 is the general consensus that it's best to buy-in for the full $300 or do folks prefer to buy-in for say $100 - $200 to help manage the bankroll a bit?

Or is it totally bankroll dependent and therefore an impossible question to answer?

Thanks again.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Whatever your skill level dictates, but be aware the preflop raises are higher than you're used to seeing online, and more people tend to call.

People buy-in at 1/2 for all kinds of amounts, so if you wnat in at $200 or $150 it wouldn't look out of place.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

id actually be expecting a wait much longer than 15. before 5, maybe 25 minutes, but after that I'd expect a 1-2 hour wait. I always wait for a floor man to call someone else's name twice, and if no one shows I take there spot. works great.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

played the Borgata two weekends ago....

1/2 on Saturday night....you will wait at least 20 mins (probably 1/2 hour) before you sit

definitely buy-in for max 300...saturday night, low stakes is sh*tty poker, but Borgata babes are good and atmosphere is A+

Borgata offers STT....
$60+15
$100+20
$500?
$1000+40



I recommend the Trop...solid poker w/lots of rocks that are just bad

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

[ QUOTE ]
Whatever your skill level dictates, but be aware the preflop raises are higher than you're used to seeing online, and more people tend to call.



[/ QUOTE ]

WINNER....understatement of the year

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Thanks B. Any thoughts on the STTs at the Boragata? Have you played them? I'm very confident in my STT game, given the general consensus that live players are worse than online, but the rake just seems so high...

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks B. Any thoughts on the STTs at the Boragata? Have you played them? I'm very confident in my STT game, given the general consensus that live players are worse than online, but the rake just seems so high...

[/ QUOTE ]

didn't play em'.....rake is high but 1st and 2nd are nice profits

put your name on SST list and 1/2 list...play in which ever opens first

Seriously....stay at Borgata, play at Tropicana...trust me

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

[ QUOTE ]
One more question (didn't see anything in the FAQ about this). What's the general thought on buy-in for a $1/$2 NL ring game? If the allowed amount is $60 - $300 is the general consensus that it's best to buy-in for the full $300 or do folks prefer to buy-in for say $100 - $200 to help manage the bankroll a bit?

Or is it totally bankroll dependent and therefore an impossible question to answer?

Thanks again.

[/ QUOTE ]

You will see that most people by in between $100 - $300. That being said, I think most would advise to buy in for the max $300. You never want to leave money on the table.

Preflop raises will generally range between $10 - $15 ~ $12 being standard. All you need to do is sit there and wait for your good hands... You will get paid off.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

If you can afford them, the Borgata 250 SNGs are the best i think (60s and the 100s rake is too high and they only pay 2 spots).
$250+20, which is a good rake and they pay 3 spots:
1500/600/400
and if you can beat $10 sngs online then you can beat the $250's at the borgata.
You would be amazed at how poorly people can play in these.

And yes the 1/2 nl games there are soft and have tons going.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Whatever your skill level dictates, but be aware the preflop raises are higher than you're used to seeing online, and more people tend to call.



[/ QUOTE ]

WINNER....understatement of the year

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I'm qualified. Also, there's very little reason to recommend Trop over Borgata to someone who's never been. All of the 1/2NL games are easy to beat in town, the Trop games don't play much different than anywhere else.

Also, I know it's the thing to always tell a person to buy in full no matter what, but there's no harm in buying in a little less while you get your feet wet and adjust to what's going on.

Guys will be trying to bluff you off of AK7 flops with 99 in those games, some players won't be used to the pace. You can always top up if you feel comfortable. There's no casino with a hidden den of super-fish 1/2 players compared to all of the others. All of the games are pretty bad compared to online.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Thanks Gonso. I appreciate the advice. Sounds like I need to play an even tighter game than normal, since it sounds like there will be a lot of calling stations at the table.

Here's a real noob question from an online STT player... Assuming I'm building a nice chip stack at the table am I allowed to take any money off of the table or do I need to leave all of my chips in play until I walk away?

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Have to leave it all there unless you use it to tip a waitress or something like that. You could always take a break or move to a different table if you don't want to risk that much though.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a real noob question from an online STT player... Assuming I'm building a nice chip stack at the table am I allowed to take any money off of the table or do I need to leave all of my chips in play until I walk away?

[/ QUOTE ]

In a cash game, it is table stakes, you can't go south with chips (Take money off the table) and still remain in the game.

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

Just got back from the Borgata on the 4th. As for your buy-in question I would start out at 100-200 until you get used to things. Limp at all times possible for 2 dollars, people will pay off your flopped 2 pair str8s and flushes with top pair no kicker. Only play tight in raised pots, feel free to open push JJ+ in LP in the raised pots to pickup all the dead money if u buy in small. ( easy 30-50 dollars to snag ) People will call 15 dollar raises with 86offsuit, so raised pots do not mean quality hands. If you have a small stack and hit TPTK or better in a raised pot, just go all in and watch 99 call you anyway because theres no way you hit that King.


No you are not allowed to take money off the table in NL games. Just wait till you double or triple up and leave the table. The wait list is rarely longer than 15 minutes, and it gives u time to think about how to adjust your play. BM is radically different than online play, but is also dramatically more profitable. Once you get used to it you will have 1500 dollars on your 1/2 table in no time. ( after a couple trips you will own the tourists so hard ) Remember to tip the dealers 1 dollar a hand and 2-3 bucks when u stack a donk. What you say IS BINDING so dont joke about going all in or raising etc. Try not to tip the waitresses 5 dollars like I do, but damn you can see all the goods in those uniforms.


Pick out the players on your table. Watch to see whos an internet hotshot and who is a Old NIT and who is a gambler. OLD NITS always have top 5% hands when they raise and always AA KK when they reraise PF. Just fold QQ. Bluff them on their whiffed low card flops. Gamblers are your bread and butter, try to play against them. Internet hotshots tend to play too loose in order to take the gamblers money, so play tight against them.

- Mandor

Re: First trip to the Borgata this weekend
 

I might be up there on sunday. I'm not sure yet, maybe monday. I've only played at the Borgata and 1/2 is totally soft. For awhile I was playing exclusively MTTs and STTs there but lately I've been getting in the cash games a lot more.