First Casino tournament

[Erik.R]

First of i don't know if this is the right sub forum for this post. If it is not then i am sorry and please move it to the proper forum.
As i left school today i rememberd last night that i was surfing the internet site of Holland Casino. And that they where offering a 25 Euro 40 person tournament. And i decided with my cash game profits of the last 5 sessions to buy a ticket for next sunday's tournament.

My question is what should i expect, i have never effer played poker in a Casino before. Mostly i play with friends and occasionally in a bar. Should i for example read a good poker tournament book i have come across dan harrington on holdem no limit tournaments is this a good preperation. i should mention that i have played online tournaments with some degree of succes.

Also when sunday comes i will post a report for those interested.

[Conan776]

I'd be curious about the blind structure. My local B&M has 20 minute levels, which I've been told is "typical" but I really don't believe that yet.

[Popped Rod]

Do you know what kind of structure the casino has set up for its tourneys? Most B&M low limit tournaments should be played as "turbos' because the blinds will double every 15-20 minutes.

Also, a 40 player prize pool is not going to be very big payout. Do you know what the payout structure will be? Maybe top 3-5 will get paid with 40% for 1st (minus casino's rake).

Play for enjoyment first and relax. You should do fine.

[Erik.R]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you know what kind of structure the casino has set up for its tourneys? Most B&M low limit tournaments should be played as "turbos' because the blinds will double every 15-20 minutes.

Also, a 40 player prize pool is not going to be very big payout. Do you know what the payout structure will be? Maybe top 3-5 will get paid with 40% for 1st (minus casino's rake).

Play for enjoyment first and relax. You should do fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just got of the phone, called the casino blinds are 20 minutes and last 4 players get paid out house cut he didn't know. But on the site they mention a different tournament wich says it is 5 percent so it is probally around that number.

[Erik.R]

Also maybe i should note this as well. I am largely playing because i want to feel out the casino enviorement. I might start playing the cash games there soon. But for the most part i am playing for the experience and fun. Also i could try to convince some friends to come allong and play aswell, there where only 5 players registrated.

[Popped Rod]

Playing low limit tourneys is a fun way to break into playing live poker. You get to play a lot of hands for very little money and have the oppourtunity to get a feel for playing with chips, betting patterns, rules, etc.

The tournament sounds pretty standard, although it would be good to know starting stack and specific blinds. This way you will know when you can wait for hands or when you have to push all-in to steal blinds.

25 euro entry probably takes out 2 euros for the casino. 40 players times 23 euros is 920 euro prize pool. Payouts may be 40-30-20-10% or 368, 276, 184, and 92 euros for for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th respectively.

[Erik.R]

Alright just got back from school tournament was yesterday. I became 4th and cashed in 80 euro's, i type a report later if you guys want it. also rake is horrible at the local casino it is 20%, but all in all i had a great time played poker for almost 5 hours i think at 2000-4000 blinds i was out. Was the stack leader through out most of the tournament highest stack was 32k and at final table i had 20% of al the chips.

[jively]

Congrats. I'd like to see your trip report.

-Tom

[Erik.R]

write one up as we speak.

[Erik.R]

as you know i bought a ticket to my first tournament in a casino a week ago. I was really looking forward to it, and i managed to convince 3 friends from school to come along and play as well.

Sunday morning i wake up at around 11.30 in the morning, first bad beat of the day as i was home 05.00 in the morning. My promise to my self to drink as little beer as possible did not come trough. But had a great night none the less, wich in the end is all what mathers. Getting to the casino was easy i took a bus and the train to Enschede where the casino is located i was there a quarter of an hour early. On the way i passed one of those steam trains wich was really nice butt also because of that it was really busy at the train station.

As i said i was a little early in the casino and i met my friends on the casino floor. Talked a little with them and looked around, lots of guys of my age and maybe 3 guys over 30 i am 19 so most of the players where young.

I got a ticket for table 5 seat 10, and sat down. first of i found this the most enjoyable seats as i had lots of leg space, the only down side was on my left i coudn't see the players. The dealers where good as far as i noticed no flops to early, altough the first hand i got he dealt a 3 of harts wich fell open and he burned the card.

First couple of hands i didn't play but the first hand k10 in the bb i managed to win with out a show down. The first 40 minutes i managed to dubbel up. The first real nice hand i got was AA in utg +3 the guy after the bb makes a raise of 300 and i call in the hopes that a guy who raised almost every hand before that would raise, he sat 3 seats after me. He did not and the pf raiser and i where alone on the flop flop is 10 10 3 and he pushes all in for 600 more i think about it. And sadly i make the call he throws open 10 7 i feel disgusted. but i take it all back a orbit later with 67 in a unraised pot against him with the flop 77q in wich he has aq.

I manage to continue to make some well plays and after about an hour i am stack leader this is still the same at the final tabel i am stack leader with about 12k chips begin stack 2k.

First hand at the final tabel is great i wake up with AJ. The guy who is in second place raises i call flop is ax5 he raises i call. Turn brings another ace i check it to him to make me seem afraid of the ace. Before this hand i did not play with him on a table so i did not know how he played. He bets big i call after putting up an act. River brins a jack i check again cold blooded he pushes i call, i show AJ he curses he had 23. what he was trying to do afther he missed his straight i do not know. At this moment i am the vast chip leader with about 21k. i decide to see how the guys i don't know yet play before i make any moves.

Untill the bubble i stay steady in my position. but as we continue with the last 4 players the blinds are horrendus at 2000 4000. so pushes happen all the time. i get 3K in the bb check it with the small blind kxx with two diamonds i push he calls river brins another diamond and he makes his 6 high flush. I get 80 euros out of a buy of 25. Unfortunatly i could not go to a cash game as i went out to dinner with my dad and some of his friends. But next week i will cash game for sure.

All in all i enjoyed it alot. And will go there again this sunday, i had a great time and will probally be sort of a regullar at this tournament.

Ps

I am sorry for any grammar or miss spelled words