Kansas City

[awmacv]

One more question (although any other insights into poker at Ameristar in NKC would be great...we're going from 11/17-11/22)...what's the deal with alcohol there....free, cheap, etc.? I am assuming there's table service in the poker room but sometimes it's not safe to assume...

Thanks again,
-A

[malo]

No free booze, against state regs. You can purchase drinks at the table (and throughout the casino.) Been awhile since i was there, so don't know prices.

Liquor sales end at 1:30 or 2 am. Don't buy a drink with the intent of taking it back up to your hotel room, security will stop you (at least that is what happened to my friend and I.)

[flopthequads]

Welcome to Missouri, home of the second worst set of gaming regulations in the US. (Colorado is first, with the nice $3 max bet). Anyhow I live in KC and play frequently.
The basic breakdown is Limit at Ameristar and NLimit at Harrahs. Argosy has some of each but is in 3rd place when it comes to number of people playing.

As far as the wonderful "loss limit" we have it is easy to get around. The limit is $500 every 2 hours on the even hour. So if you want to have more then $500 in chips on ya, just arrive at 3:45 buy in and then at 4:01 buy in again and you now have $1000. Also on the subject of booze, there is nothing free in MO and you cannot pay for them with chips. You can tip with chips, but better have some cash for the booze.


Ameristar - 15 tables. They run 3/6 sometimes with a Kill and the 15/30. The 15/30 will have 8 regulars and one fish sometimes. Otherwise it is all regualrs. The use to start the game on Friday and it would run all weekend. Am not sure about it now, since I have not been over there in quite a while. The might have a table or two of NLimit, but will most likely be 1-2, with a 200 max buy in.

Harrahs - 12 tables. 3/6 with no kill. The rest of the room is NLimit 1-2 200 max and 2-5 500 max. On a typical weekend there will be three or four 2-5 games, four 1-2 game and then five 3/6 games. This is where I spend all of my time, since I like the 2-5 game. There is also a NLimit 5-10 500-5000 max buyin on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Maybe people want it to run on the weekends but the room will not do it for whatever reasons.

[awmacv]

Thanks for the heads up...having played very little NL I am leaning towards Ameristar. Are you saying that there are no Limit games between 3/6 and 15/30? If so, it sounds like there are maybe two NL tables and one 15/30 game; does that mean that the rest are 3/6 or are there usually several closed tables? I just don't want to go and not be able to get a game each day. It looks like I'll be there from a Saturday evening until Thursday morning (T'Giving week). Am I wasting my time going to KC if I expect to get a game higher than 3/6 but lower than 15/30 each day (I'd be thrilled with 6/12 or 8/16)?

[malo]

Checked Ameristar's website, and it actually has a decent poker page. Of course, what actually gets spread in the room may be different, but this info might be a starting point. And it includes a phone number for the poker room:

http://www.ameristar.com/kc/kc_ca_pokerroom.asp

Edit: Wherever you play in Missouri, your first stop will be the booth to get a players' card. Must have valid ID, and must have the card to buy chips. That is how they track your buy in to insure you stay within the $500 max/every 2 hours guidelines.

[soah]

expecting to find 6/12 or 8/16 in Kansas City is pretty much a waste of time, yes

I only went to Ameristar once (over a year ago) and they had some 4/8 going, I think with some sort of kill or half kill.

sometimes Harrah's had an interest list for 5/10 LHE but that was kinda rare

[awmacv]

Yeah thanks. I've been to the website and it looks great but it's been my experience that advertising is great to get you in the door. I could call and be told, "sure, we'll spread anything you want," only to find that when you get there you can't get a game. Been there, done that. I was hoping for the feedback from those of you who have been, or play there from time to time.

[flopthequads]

awmacy -- If you are looking for a 6/12 or 8/16 KC is not the place for you. The 3/6 goes on all the time, everywhere in KC, so that is not a problem. I saw 4/8 one time at Harrahs and that was it. The 15/30 always goes, but the same people play it every time some just be ready for all the joy that goes on with that.

If you really want some great NL head on north to Canterbury or down to Tunica.

[awmacv]

Thanks, I appreciate the heads up. I live about 20 minutes from C'Bury and want to find another place to play for a mini vacation (within driving distance). Here I play 3/6, 4/8 or 6/12 so if I need to play 3/6 it won't be the end of the world for me (though I'd prefer 4/8 or 6/12). The bigger issue will be to find a place where I can get a game each day, all day if I want to.

I appreciate the reply!

-A

[malo]

Does anyone know if Harrah's KC (or StL) has adopted the max $5 rake (+$1 JP)? It is in place at all their LV properties, and had heard rumors---no confirmation---it would be rolled out at all their poker rooms.