Foxwoods this weekend-Trip report

[mrcunningham]

So thanks to Rick N.'s and others' suggestions I did indeed go to Foxwoods this past weekend on Friday and after Waterfire in Providence on Saturday. I don't have much time, but will provide some comments.

1. Waterfire- this was pretty cool, expecially for someone who used to live in Providence 25 years ago. 1000's of people in an area that used to be a bit unsavory at night now hanging out with food, drink, entertainment, all for free. It was worth the experience, but would have been really fun with my wife or friends.

2. The drive from PVD to FW was fairly pleasant. 50 minutes so nearly 15 mins less than what Mapquest listed for time, and I rarely drove >8 mph more than speed limit. Not being from the area I didn't want to take my chances with RI or Conn hwy patrol.

3. The radiowaves picked up on the drive were very nostalgic (or dated, depending on your perspective). I was in college in Providence 25 years ago, and numerous of the radio stations were plahing exactly the same music. I hadn't heard songs by Boston, the Cars, etc... in many years in California, but over and over this stuff was played during my two drives to FW. What's the deal with this? Are New Englanders all young boomers or stuck in the past or what? I will admit, however, that I enjoyed the music for this trip.

4. Despite the Poker room being smoke free, you could still smell the smoke from the Casino. This was not great, and no question a shower and change of close was needed prior to attending any business meetings.

5. NO WAITING! I show up at 9:30 pm on Friday and 5 am on Sunday morning and there are no waits at all. This was great.

6. I was at table 42 (5/10 kill) both times (Friday 9:30 pm- 3:30 am and Sunday 5am-8am), did I play with any 2+2ers. On both times there were folks that I thought might be posters. As I was leaving Sunday morning I did go by the table and ask one kid (early 20s white kid with the hat and dark glasses) if he was a 2+2er and he acted very coy. He said what's that, and I said it was a website, then he said "what's up," but not quite sup bro, and then kind of smiled, anyway I let it go, figuring either he wasn't or he was and didn't want anyone at the table to know. Was that you?

7. I liked the free drinks, especially the french vanilla cappucino, to stay awake. I didn't like the no food policy. I don't care if the food is free, but I missed the west coast policy of eating at the table. Some said they used to let you eat. Were people to messy in the past?

8. The game, as one poster advised me in a prior post, at FW was very different than California. I've never seen so much chopping in my life. I can go 20 hours at AJs and never see a chop, compared to FW where I must have personally chopped at least a dozen times in just 2 sessions. I gather this has to do with the weak tight nature of the games and the rake, in stead of drop.

Anyway, it was very different and required a lot of adjustment for me. In some ways it required more thinking, and so was more challenging, but certainly not as profitable. I'm not going to discuss any hands here, I posted a couple of them in the SS forum. Also, I was surprised at how few tourists. In 9 hours of play, I think I was the only non-regular. Everyone else had a Wampum rewards card, and were dressed like they live in the area. This struck me as odd since Providence is the nearest city and its almost an hour away.

The play was much tighter than I was used to, and much less aggressive, except for the couple TAG, LAG 2+2 acting folks. Even at 5/10 it was like they had all read the Ciaffone book.

8. I didn't like the blind structure. I simply think the 3 chip structure in california is better than this 2 chip structure. Sure it's easier to keep track, but I suspect this is why everyone acts so weak tight, they don't see a huge pile of chips, so they give up.

9. The kill was interesting, but unfortunately didn't play long enough to figure out how to get value from it.

10. I liked having a rake, not a drop.

time to go...

[KitCloudkicker]

nice TR, MR. C!. you shouldve played the 4/8 with me and the other maniacs. we kept the action going til 5 am, it was sick. When i left I couldnt see over my towers of chips :-)

[Diamond Lie]

Nice TR Mr. Cunningham!

[ QUOTE ]
2. The drive from PVD to FW was fairly pleasant. 50 minutes so nearly 15 mins less than what Mapquest listed for time, and I rarely drove >8 mph more than speed limit. Not being from the area I didn't want to take my chances with RI or Conn hwy patrol.

[/ QUOTE ]

For some reason, mapquest is always off by 10-15 minutes. Its not a bad thing if you end up hitting traffic and didn't leave early enough, but it seems to be the estimated time for someone driving 10 mph under the speed limit to that particular destination.

[ QUOTE ]
3. The radiowaves picked up on the drive were very nostalgic (or dated, depending on your perspective). I was in college in Providence 25 years ago, and numerous of the radio stations were plahing exactly the same music. I hadn't heard songs by Boston, the Cars, etc... in many years in California, but over and over this stuff was played during my two drives to FW. What's the deal with this? Are New Englanders all young boomers or stuck in the past or what? I will admit, however, that I enjoyed the music for this trip.

[/ QUOTE ]

Classic rock stations in NE/RI are great. Theres like 4 different stations you can choose from with this format, which is something I take for granted when I am driving through other parts of the country.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I was surprised at how few tourists. In 9 hours of play, I think I was the only non-regular. Everyone else had a Wampum rewards card, and were dressed like they live in the area. This struck me as odd since Providence is the nearest city and its almost an hour away.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think for limit theres more older/regulars at the limits your playing. If you play 1/2 or 2/5 often you will see less and less of the same faces and more randoms.

The waitlist was non existant for most of friday, which was nice.

[daryn]

rake = drop right? you mean you like having a rake vs time?

[neil705]

[ QUOTE ]


2. The drive from PVD to FW was fairly pleasant. 50 minutes so nearly 15 mins less than what Mapquest listed for time, and I rarely drove >8 mph more than speed limit. Not being from the area I didn't want to take my chances with RI or Conn hwy patrol.[ QUOTE ]


pussy

[Mr Rick]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I was surprised at how few tourists. In 9 hours of play, I think I was the only non-regular. Everyone else had a Wampum rewards card, and were dressed like they live in the area. This struck me as odd since Providence is the nearest city and its almost an hour away.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was surprised too at the lack of tourists... But then there aren't a lot of tourists who travel to Foxwoods as their destination. And I'm guessing that its too much of a trip for a tourist visiting Boston. At one 10/20 LHE table recently I had played with every single other player at a previous time.

[ QUOTE ]

The play was much tighter than I was used to, and much less aggressive, except for the couple TAG, LAG 2+2 acting folks. Even at 5/10 it was like they had all read the Ciaffone book.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am surprised it wasn't looser. At 10/20 I have had 10 hour sessions where I didn't see a chop. Could have just been the day.
[ QUOTE ]

8. I didn't like the blind structure. I simply think the 3 chip structure in california is better than this 2 chip structure. Sure it's easier to keep track, but I suspect this is why everyone acts so weak tight, they don't see a huge pile of chips, so they give up.


[/ QUOTE ]
This is New England. You lived there. People are frugal.

[Ramstone]

[ QUOTE ]

Not being from the area I didn't want to take my chances with RI or Conn hwy patrol.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wise man. The going rate for 83 MPH is $300. Glad I was shotgun.

[ QUOTE ]

6. I was at table 42 (5/10 kill) both times (Friday 9:30 pm- 3:30 am and Sunday 5am-8am), did I play with any 2+2ers. On both times there were folks that I thought might be posters. As I was leaving Sunday morning I did go by the table and ask one kid (early 20s white kid with the hat and dark glasses) if he was a 2+2er and he acted very coy. He said what's that, and I said it was a website, then he said "what's up," but not quite sup bro, and then kind of smiled, anyway I let it go, figuring either he wasn't or he was and didn't want anyone at the table to know. Was that you?


[/ QUOTE ]

Missed you by *that* much. OK, 24 hours, and I'm not a 2+2 regular yet, though I'm recognizing the regs at that game. 30ish Asian with wirerim glasses, couple post-college locals, one 40ish guy. And, apparently, a nuisance drunk that's a mixed blessing. He's a provider but slows the game down 40 percent.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

7. I liked the free drinks, especially the french vanilla cappucino, to stay awake. I didn't like the no food policy. I don't care if the food is free, but I missed the west coast policy of eating at the table. Some said they used to let you eat. Were people to messy in the past?


[/ QUOTE ]

Once you've played at the Taj you won't want food at the table ever again.

[ QUOTE ]

8. The game, as one poster advised me in a prior post, at FW was very different than California. I've never seen so much chopping in my life. I can go 20 hours at AJs and never see a chop, compared to FW where I must have personally chopped at least a dozen times in just 2 sessions. I gather this has to do with the weak tight nature of the games and the rake, in stead of drop.
I didn't like the blind structure. I simply think the 3 chip structure in california is better than this 2 chip structure. Sure it's easier to keep track, but I suspect this is why everyone acts so weak tight, they don't see a huge pile of chips, so they give up.


[/ QUOTE ]

I always think this chip psychology's overrated, but I'll take it up elsewhere.

[ QUOTE ]

9. The kill was interesting, but unfortunately didn't play long enough to figure out how to get value from it.


[/ QUOTE ]

That would explain the lack of profit.

[mrcunningham]

No, I actually meant rake vs. drop. Maybe I'm wrong, but my understanding is that a drop is where they automatically pull the money off the table on the flop, like they do in California. As opposed to a rake, where they take more off if the pot is bigger. Of course, time is paid by time. If I'm wrong I'd appreciate someone clarifying this for me.

[Army Eye]

[ QUOTE ]

7. I liked the free drinks, especially the french vanilla cappucino, to stay awake. I didn't like the no food policy. I don't care if the food is free, but I missed the west coast policy of eating at the table. Some said they used to let you eat. Were people to messy in the past?


[/ QUOTE ]

I think messiness, and slowing down of the game were factors. Another major problem was that the lanes between the poker tables would become congested with food trays and you could hardly walk anywhere, although that was the old room which the tables were packed in tighter.

[Diana Ross Fan]

[ QUOTE ]
The play was much tighter than I was used to, and much less aggressive, except for the couple TAG, LAG 2+2 acting folks. Even at 5/10 it was like they had all read the Ciaffone book.

8. I didn't like the blind structure. I simply think the 3 chip structure in california is better than this 2 chip structure. Sure it's easier to keep track, but I suspect this is why everyone acts so weak tight, they don't see a huge pile of chips, so they give up.

9. The kill was interesting, but unfortunately didn't play long enough to figure out how to get value from it.


[/ QUOTE ]

It's not the chips, it's the game. The middle limits are dieing out because everyone wants to play nl 'like they do on tv' Sure there are still periods when the 5-10 game is live and there are hours of mostly kill hands. But those are getting scarce.