I live in Texas. There are 2 casinos. Help...

BenA · #1 10-05-2006, 12:40 AM

Hi guys, I live in Austin, and play online poker. At least I used to... If I have to drive 5 hours to the Kickapoo Casino in Eagle Pass Texas, 4 to the Aransas Casino Cruise, or 6.5 hours to Shreveport, Louisiana, can anyone tell me if the play or the establishments are worth it? That's all I've got here, and I'm desperately trying to keep up my poker playing. Thanks to anyone who knows anything about these casinos.

cap11 · #2 10-05-2006, 01:11 AM

I live in Longview, TX which is only about an hour away from Shreveport LA. There are a total of 6 casinos of which only 2 have a poker room (Horseshoe and Eldorado). The games are usually very soft especially on the weekends, and only slightly tougher during the week. Both casinos spread 1-2 NL, 2-5 NL as well as 4-8 limit. On the week ends there is usually at least one table of 20-40 limit at the Horseshoe.

Can't help you with the others, as out of the ones you mentioned I have only been to Shreveport.

BenA · #3 10-05-2006, 01:23 AM

Thanks cap... That does really help, especially since a 12 hour round trip needs some serious justification [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

When you say the games are soft, does that include the 20-40 game at the horseshoe on weekends?

cap11 · #4 10-05-2006, 01:44 AM

There have been times when I have seen the 20-40 game playing looser than most of the 4-8 games. However naturally, this game, at times, does draw a few tough customers as well.

The 20-40 is usually only being spread during "peak" times. Sometimes if breaks up quickly so I wouldn't count on it being spread around the clock. Might be something to consider, especially considering how far away you are.

BTW if you want a place to stay both have excellent hotels. Also, the Horseshoe poker room comps you a $1 an hour for your play(not great but at least something). I don't think the Eldorado offers any comps.

Feel free to ask any more questions.

BenA · #5 10-05-2006, 02:26 AM

Again, very helpful post. Thanks. I'll try to sum up my pertinent questions here...

I'm a limit player, and NL, PL, and SL are out of the question until I can learn correct play.

1) What games are spread between 4/8 and 20/40. 8/16, 15/30, 10/20 seem likely possibilities, but I would like to know.
2) Do 'peak hours' only happen on weekends, or do they happen occasionally during certain weekday hours?
3) Is a 4/8 usually going? That might be enough incentive for me to make the trip so I can wait the 20/40 tables out while still getting some valid play in.
4) Does a 1$ comp per hour mean that I'd have to play 60 hours to get a free 60$ hotel room? I guess I don't understand. But as you say, its at least something.
5) Is there ever even a rare game spread above 20/40?
6) In your opinion, is this 'soft play' generated more by locals or visitors?
7) By soft play, do you mean loose passive? I'd make the trip for that [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Thank you for your help.

BenA

cap11 · #6 10-05-2006, 03:41 AM

I'm mainly a limit player also.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can.

In my opinion 1-2 NL has almost killed the good limit action in Shreveport. The fish see NL on TV and they think they are the next WSOP champion, so NL is what they want to play.

4-8 limit is spread 24/7/365. Any other limit game is usually limited to Friday/Saturday afternoon/nights.

I use the $1 comp/hour to buy a few meals here and there. I live so close to the casino that I very rarely stay overnight. I'm not sure of the exact procedures for comp hotel rooms but I do believe that they offer poker room rates.

By soft play I definately mean loose/passive, especially on week-ends. Shreveport gets lots of Dallas tourists on the weekends. This is definatley the time to be there.

During the week from about 9AM to 4PM the "old geezers" come out in full force but they are classic weak-tights who can be easily beaten.

Come give it a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed. But you will be amazed at some of the poor play that you'll see.

BenA · #7 10-05-2006, 03:55 AM

I'm gonna take your word for it, cap. I think its worth a weekend trip to give it a shot. Your responses answered pretty much all of my legitimate questions, and I can't thank you enough.

Soon to be in Shreveport,

BenA

pavement · #8 10-05-2006, 07:57 AM

Try out Winstar in Oklahoma. They have 4/8, 5/10 and sometimes 10/20 limit.

binions · #9 10-05-2006, 08:47 AM

Hell, form a group called Austin Online Poker Anonymous, and have have private house games. Maybe even rent one of these for a pseudo-online experience:

http://www.pokertek.com/table.html

Hoss1193 · #10 10-05-2006, 09:47 AM

I can provide a little feedback on the Texas Treasure casino ship out of Port Aransas. I don't think it's quite worth a trip in itself, but if you're down around the Corpus area on vacation (fishing or whatever), it's worth stopping by.

The bad: You have to pay just to get on the boat. It was $15 two years ago. Then, you have to wait almost an hour while the ship leaves pier and goes out to international waters. Another hour. You get about 4-5 hours of play, then the table closes up for return trip. Another hour waiting to get pierside. On top of all this, they typically spread only one hold'em table (maybe two on Fri/Sat night). There's a bunch of regulars who snap up seats early, so you actually have to board the ship very early to have a seat at game start. MORE time invested, OR, have to wait for a seat to open up about halfway through the cruise (many of the regulars like to leave to go shoot craps before the ship pulls in).

The good: Okay, all that negative stuff aside, it's all worth it because the game is INCREDIBLY soft, full of horrific players. Texas Treasure spreads an unusual 5-5-10-15 limit HE game. It's such an insulated environment that despite the amount of cards these folks play, they never get better because they're never exposed to good play. (That's my theory, anyway, having played in the game 5 times in 2004). Game features a lot of calling stations and a couple of true maniac superLAGs. Enormous pots.

This was the first live poker I ever played; I'd read HEPFAP once through and had a vague idea of the Sklansky's starting hand groups - this was before SSHE came out. Anyway, neophyte though I was, it was enough to enable me to do extremely well without even really trying.

This was a couple of years ago, so information may be somewhat dated...but I'll bet it still applies.

If it wasn't for the admission fee and limited playing time, I'd say it's definitely worth the drive from Austin. As it is, I'd say it's definitely worth a visit if you're already in the area for some other reason.