Hard Rock--Tampa

GailMI · #1 02-15-2006, 07:10 PM

For the people who have played at the Hard Rock, Tampa card room--I have a question. I have to go to Tampa (from Michigan) later this month for one night only. I just found out I had to do this today and I'm just flying down, staying overnight and then meeting my 87-year-old father at the airport to fly back home with him. Soo....while looking around for a cheap hotel I find out that there's a Hard Rock Casino not far from the airport. It would cost me a couple of cab rides (probably $30 each way) to play. My only other option is sit by the pool and thaw out and/or watch movies/read in the room. I was OK with that idea and then I saw this.

My question: Under those circumstances do you think a trip to that poker room is worth it? I did a search and, well, the reviews are worse than bad. Another important part is--I actually LIKE low-limit poker. I usually play $2/$4 or $3/$6. I've even played the $1-$3 spread at Excalibur and had a good time. I've read SSHE more than once, and actually take learning to play the low-limits well pretty seriously. (Realizing I'm not going to make money, but I enjoy the game.)

Is the room at the Hard Rock in Tampa really so bad that even a low-limit player couldn't amuse herself for an afternoon and evening?

Opinions appreciated. Thanks.

4_2_it · #2 02-15-2006, 07:18 PM

There are much better things to do in Tampa than go to the Hard Rock. What else do you like to do?

GailMI · #3 02-15-2006, 07:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]
There are much better things to do in Tampa than go to the Hard Rock. What else do you like to do?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very sad question. I REALLY like to play poker. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I guess it really is that bad then. Too bad. With this bad of a recommendation, I'd still check it out--it not for the $30 cab ride from the airport. (That's how high poker is on my list of what I like to do...).

Guess I'll go to the mall or something. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

dedenburn · #4 02-15-2006, 07:33 PM

If you really enjoy the small stakes games, and are very good, you can make a nice profit. Expect to see lots of ten-handed flops and five or six-handed rivers. This creates a situation where top pair hands substantially decrease in value but speculative hands really do thrive. Over a three week stay in Lakeland (30 miles east of Tampa), I played the Hard Rock almost every night and averaged +5.5 BB/hr. That's a damn fine rate if you ask me!

My advice is to always protect your hand relentlessly, play offsuit cards VERY selectively, and make sure you can lay down Aces or Kings if you need to. Most "good" players gripe constantly about this room because of its loose tendencies, but if you know how to take advantage of it, you'll have a blast.

By the way, they spread a $2/$2 game--stay away: far, far, away. Preflop pots are capped around 75% of the time, so you really don't get to play many hands. It is a real circus. Good luck, and if you need any more info, PM me.

P.S. There is a young lady who deals there named Bridgette who dealt Doyle Brunson his tenth WSOP bracelet. If you go, take care of her, she's pretty cool.

dedenburn · #5 02-15-2006, 07:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
There are much better things to do in Tampa than go to the Hard Rock. What else do you like to do?

[/ QUOTE ]

Better than poker? We are talking about Tampa, FL., right? [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

sng-sam · #6 02-15-2006, 08:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If you really enjoy the small stakes games, and are very good, you can make a nice profit. Expect to see lots of ten-handed flops and five or six-handed rivers. This creates a situation where top pair hands substantially decrease in value but speculative hands really do thrive. Over a three week stay in Lakeland (30 miles east of Tampa), I played the Hard Rock almost every night and averaged +5.5 BB/hr. That's a damn fine rate if you ask me!

My advice is to always protect your hand relentlessly, play offsuit cards VERY selectively, and make sure you can lay down Aces or Kings if you need to. Most "good" players gripe constantly about this room because of its loose tendencies, but if you know how to take advantage of it, you'll have a blast.

By the way, they spread a $2/$2 game--stay away: far, far, away. Preflop pots are capped around 75% of the time, so you really don't get to play many hands. It is a real circus. Good luck, and if you need any more info, PM me.

P.S. There is a young lady who deals there named Bridgette who dealt Doyle Brunson his tenth WSOP bracelet. If you go, take care of her, she's pretty cool.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was in Tampa for a week last month played every day $2/$2 incidently...the above is ALL true. Check raises are ignored so don't bother. basically I used it as time to practice reading other peoples hands. They have killer chicken fried rice FWIW.

Straight Flushes,

SAM

m bozeman · #7 02-15-2006, 10:21 PM

Check out Ybor City while you are there, its a blast. The poker room at Hard Rock is a joke. Between the horrible, loose action, over-raked pots, your cab fare, and tips, you are fighting an uphill battle just to break even. I love poker, too, but would not waste my time there.

MeanGreenTT · #8 02-15-2006, 11:59 PM

Tampa Downs has a mtt every nite at 6:30pm for $40, and 11-person SNGs for $45. Usually has 120+ players, top 9 pay.

Not the most ideal structure and don't even bother asking about the rake, still a good time and a beatable game.

superdealer · #9 02-16-2006, 12:32 AM

Hi Gail,

I deal at the tampa hard rock.
if you really love poker, everything about the game, not just winning money, and can handle heavy cigarrete smoke, I recommend you give the hard rock a visit.
the experience of the tampa hard rock can swing really good or really bad, but it will most definatly be remembered.
If you go on a weekend thur-sat night try and arrive early like 4pm-6pm the wait on weekends can be as long as 5 hours if you get there at 8 or 9. it is a 50 table room and the waiting list on weekends can be 2-300 deep
the straight 2 tables can often times get capped alot because that is the only way to raise the limit in fla. sometimes it will become a 6 or 8 dollar game. pots are almost always over 50$ in the 2-2 game.
the 1-2 game is much more timid 20-30 dollar pots on average.
bad beats and suck outs are aplenty,
if you have no expectations, and are ready to accept people playing ANYTHING to the river, you will have a poker experience like no other.
drinks are expensive, the smoke is thick
it is possible to leave ahead there, i see people do it, but you shouldnt go if winning is your goal. winning your cab fare back would of course be nice, and can be done.

any other questions, just ask.

PhatCasino · #10 02-16-2006, 03:27 AM

i'd also like to add - it actually is a nice place. and for someone in florida going through live poker withdrawals or just bored - it's a great thing to have. but yes, any game here is something to laugh about as most people have a decision of either going to the movies, club, bar or playing poker for the night... so money is being thrown away but thing is you can only catch this money if you throw out your own. its not poker - its high class bingo.