Best AC Tourneys?

[rachkane]

I won a seat to the WSOPME and I'd like to get some live tournament experience in before I go. Any suggestions?
I was considering the Hilton 40+10 15k starting chips.

Anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks for your help!

[Hairball]

The Borgata Summer Open starts on Wednesday. They are speading a number of $500 buy-in NLHE tournaments as well as good number of mega satellites for lower buy-ins. This is probably the most relevant experience you can get in preparation for the WSOP ME.

I don't think the regular dailies in AC are all that relevant. Starting stack size isn't nearly as important as the overall structure of the tournament. All the dailies have short levels and aggressive blind schedules that pretty much reduce the tournies to push-fests after the third level.

You'd also benefit from going out to LV a few days early and playing in a few megas or maybe one of the low buy-in mirror events at Binions.

[SellingtheDrama]

Best dailies to play IMO are the Friday/Saturday 11AM/noon starts at the Borgata.

Decent stacks/levels, decent fields....much more like what you'll see in terms of skill level than a $50 buyin.

[pa3lsvt]

$100 (80+20) "double stack" (T10k) freezeout Sunday night at the Trop. Standard AC structure with 20 minute levels but deeper stacks to start (i.e. more time to accumulate before pushbotting).

Borg dailies are also good (start with T5k and 20 minute levels), they allow a single add-on (no rebuys) after level 3 so they give you more time to accumulate as well. Evening is $100+20/$100 AO, AM is $50+$15/$50 AO last time I checked.

[NickMPK]

I like the Hilton poker room a lot, but Borgata is really the only place for decent tournaments.

Over the next couple weeks, Borgata has the Summer Poker Open. A bunch of 2-day tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $300 to $5000. I played in a few of the lower-end tournaments in last September's poker festival, and had a great experience.

Normally during the week, I would recommend the $250+30 Friday noon tournament, but the Mon-Thurs dailies are also good. I've never played in the $500+60 on Saturday...I think it draws a smaller field.

[Bishop22]

Tropicana's structure is really underrated, I think I got an email that they had added a couple levels and after the first break the levels are 25 minutes, 30 minutes after the second break. Site has not been updated I believe it has started already tho.

[Gonso]

Hilton's are pretty fast, I don't think that's what you're looking for. Try Borg, the bigger the buy-in the better. Re-read Harrington 5 times.

[rachkane]

Played the 40+10 at the Hilton. Since I had never played a tourney in the casino live before, it was definitely an experience. Cashed 5th of 23 for $74. BFD. Paid for gas back home and 3 Miller Lite tips.
Start w/ 15k chips, 15 min levels, push-fest after level 5 and you'd be blinded out by level 6 w/o playing a hand.

I have played in bar tournaments before, and no fold 'em hold'em 2-4 Lim at the Trop for marathon sessions, but that was more than 2 yrs ago. I was definitely nervous sitting for the first time again. As soon as I realized people were playing K7o and A6, etc. OOP I felt a lot more comfortable.

There were a couple spots where I could have been more aggressive and taken a few chips.

As I remember one:

8 handed - Level 3
Blinds are 50 ante 200/400.
UTG folds.
I have 77 in UTG+1 and limp w/ ~14000 behind.

4 more people limp incl. BB/SB.
Flop is 9d 7h 5h
SB, BB check. I check. MP1 bets 1k. All fold to me I call.

Turn 8c
I bet out 3k. MP1 calls.

River 10d
I check. MP bets 3k. I call. She flips QQ and MHIG.

The thing is, I'm not a weak tight player even though I played like it. I think it was just nerves and being comfortable at the table. I feel like with the right aggression factor, these things are definitely beatable, though.

I only "lost" one hand early on in the tournament when Grandma donk bet $200 into the flop, turn and river with $1000 pot on J95r board with trip 9s. Turn and river were blank, blank and bells went off in my head, but I just had to call her w/ my A5o.

All in all, I'd definitely go back. And once my bankroll allows, I'm hitting up a Borgatament.

[badMETAsin]

The $300 tournys at the Tropicana are a great buy. You start with $10K in chips, and the level of play is very soft.