Motor City, $2-5NL to be offered?

[otter]

Last month a pit boss told me that he expected a $2-5NL game w/ a $500 max buyin to be offered, perhaps before they open the new room. Aparantly they submited the game for approval, but I have no idea what happened other than that. Has anyone else heard anything?

Next time you're in there ask them if they'd consider offering it. The more intereste the better. This game used to and can still be a great game espescially w/ the $5-10NL game running daily.

[sirpupnyc]

They already have it, don't they? I've only been there once, but they had 1-1-2NL ("50-200") and 2-2-5 ("No Limit"). I watched a 2-5 table for a while while I waited for 1-2 and wished it wasn't a bit too big for me, because it was crazy juicy.

[gjpure]

Hey Otter,

I have also asked for 2/5 NL and I was told there has been interest in the game. I know many 50-200 players who told me they would play it. I think once MGM opens up there poker room they will offer 2/5 for sure and motor and greektown will have to follow. I also know that MGM will take rake, not time fee, and then I think motor and greektown will have to change as well. See you at the tables. -PJ

[JJNJustin]

Motor City is rake hungry. $6+$1bb+$1tip on all the limit games, usually no reduction on 6 people or less, and they strive to keep open two short tables on the lower limits.

The time charge is kind of a good and bad thing. On the one hand, the casino is taking less per hour per table, on the other hand, the tables are always kept full and the tight player pays the same in rake as the loose player. One of the reasons a tight player can overcome the rake on a normal raked game is that he is only playing 10-15% of the hands, whereas some of the suckers are playing 80-100%. This overly loose strategy is not punished but rather favored on the NL games by the time charge but overall you will see the fish strive longer in these games, and the tight player struggling to beat the time charge. The dominating factor is whether the good tight player can find more hands to play profitably, and the loose player can avoid going bust after the flop with marginal holdings. I can certainly see why the NL game is thriving in Detroit, though. My prediction is if they move to a rake over a time charge like you are saying at MGM, the loose fishy players will be far too handicapped and will go back to limit.

The limit games are still running. In general the players on 3-6 and 5-10 are very weak passive. There are some very tight trapping type players on limited bankrolls but you learn their weakness quickly. Personally I dont feel anyone on 5-10 or 3-6 at MCC can consistantly get the better of me.

I havent played 10-20 much because they are mostly people with money to burn and if you arent comfortable with the stakes like they are, they can push you out of pots you would have won. I hate letting lesser players beat me up because they have tons of money.

Despite the high rake in Detroit, some of the play is so horrible, that a very good player can still win. I think even the $3-$6 is beatable. Not for much. You have to play multiway pots very well and have very good hand-reading skills. $5-10 all you have to do is keep betting and fold good but not great hands when you are raised or c/r'ed on the big streets. Otherwise, keep betting and avoid the tight trapping players. They are really so predictable and lacking in skill.

I have heard that the NL games are pretty easy to beat. I am not an expert in this area so I can not comment. You have to come down and play.

Greektown is a garbage dump. 80% of players smoke. The dealers struggle to get out 20 hands an hour.

I wish they would lower the rake in Detroit so that 2+2'ers would come in from out of town and play more often. I mean, really, do they really expect people from outside Detroit to come and stay in their new hotel for $199 and pay huge rakes for a vacation weekend in the crime capital of the country?

-J

[otter]

How solid of a source did you hear from about MGM charging rake instead of time? Any idea when MGM will open?

[otter]

They changed the $2-5 to a $5-10NL somewhere around February of this year

[otter]

I don't think you can beat the $3-6 w/ such a high rake. The small NL game can be beat, but sometimes the games are so bad that the time charge eats you up so you have to be selective.

While crime is bad in Detroit I don't think we've been the crime capital of the world for many, many years.

Hopefully if MGM opens Greektown's poker room will be out of business!

[sirpupnyc]

Ahhh, OK. There was certainly enough money on the table I watched for that.

[The DaveR]

JJJ, you seem like you play there a lot. What games are offered, what is the rake/time structure for each, how often do they go? For time games, can one organize time pots? I'm seriously considering taking a drive up in the next couple months for a weekend because, honestly, I have little else better to do. Also, what's the story on a new room?

[JJNJustin]

Limit Hold'Em, 10% max $6, +$1 bad beat for every pot over $20

$3-$6, $5-$10, $10-$20. Most games run regularly, although weekdays late at night they sometimes get short or close altogether.

The $3-$6 is the casual game, everyone chasing. The $5-$10 is slightly better, the game varies, sometimes good games, sometimes too tight and passive (many old people/women in the day) The $10-$20 is good, sometimes crazy aggressive. Many people with mega cash and a few long time grinders/sharks in the game.

No-Limit $50-$200 $6/hf, blinds $1-$2-$2. The weakest game in Detroit in my opinion. 50-80% of the players just dont know how to play. $300 min $8/hf, blinds $5-$10. The big money game. A few good players, lot of money floating around on that table. Most of the guys just sit there with a couple grand but never bet more than a few hundred.

O8B, Wed and Saturday $5-$10 w/kill for every scooped pot over $80. Rake like limit hold'em. The nursing home lets out on Wednesday and Saturday. A suprisingly good game. There is a whole contingent of players who have been playing hi/lo in Detroit for 30 years. When there is a hi/lo game, they ride their motorized wheelchairs to it.

7-stud Sunday at noon. $5-$10, $1 ante. Rake like limit hold'em. Usually breaks down after a few hours or doesnt get running. hasnt really taken.

Various tournaments single table, multi-table thruout the day and week. I'm not sure of the schedules or structures.

-J