less than legal card room

[oddjob]

i've recently been told about a card game that is in my town. here in colorado. they only have $2-5 and $5/$5 up in the casinos. and hey are about 45 minutes away. i don't know all the details but they mostly play $5/$10 with an occasional $2/$4 games, but i guess it's not very often so i should expect it. there's not a rake but there's a 10% charge on your buy in. i guess it's a regular game or games.

is this 10% charge outragous? seems steep to me. what would be a good buy in to test the game out, see if it's on the level, beatable, so on and so forth. should i just forget this game?

i mean, has anyone played in similar games? will i be threatened if i walk away a winner?

thanks,

[Jeffage]

Well, underground games almost always have a higher rake than casino games. Say you go there and play 5-10, and your buy-in is $300. They would take 30 up front. Well if u play 8 hrs, it would be like a $4 per hour time charge, which isn't horrible. As for safety, it varies. I prefer to play in casinos only, but I happen to have bigger games available to me. If you have a poker buddy, bring him with...if you don't feel safe, leave. I doubt anyone is robbing a 5-10 game though. I'd be more nervous if it was like 20-40 or 30-60. Good luck...

Jeff

[oddjob]

thanks for the input. unfortunately none of my friends would be willing to play those limits. they rarely go and play $2-5.

i'm thinking about the next time i can swing $400-500, giving it a try and checking it out. don't know if that's enough though.

From what I've read and seen, these games can be pretty shaky. Often, players take turns dealing and cheating can be a problem. I checked out an ultra-respectable underground game here in NYC, at a nice, well lit backgammon club. And it still didn't smell right. From reading your posts, you seem like a pretty straight guy out for a good time -- and not someone who can easily write off $500 as the price of an education. I'd stay away. Why not look for a friendly home game with higher stakes -- ask around among friends acquaintances, you'd be surprised at how many games there are.

I doubt you will be threatened. The money is too small, and the ramifications too great.

This 10% of a buy in seems like a good deal. If most people buty in for 200-300, this is a whole night of cards for $40-$60, which is a lot cheaper than winning 3 pots an hour at $4-$5 each all night.

Just buy in for what others buy in for, as long as it's not much over $300, and have fun.

I'd be potentially interested in going with you. I live in Denver and do the home poker circuit. If the place you are talking about is the Hop Sing stay away. The games I attend have central dealers and one is even a no rake game.

[Jimbo]

Oddjob,

10% is not unreasonable but I can tell you how to minimize this form of rake. Simply buy in for the minimum amount allowed and make minimum rebuys if necessary. Using this method if you start off the session a winner and only had to pay 10% of a hundred dollar buy-in you saved money. As far as the integrity of the game that is up to you to determine but I have played in private games all over the world and have had more angles shot on me in casinos than ever in a private game.

You should also consider whether or not they provide food and beverages free at this game. If that is offered gratis the 10% buyin rake becomes a real bargain.

Jimbo

[Anadrol 50]

Are you referring to the games at the Acepoint club ? I wanted to try them out, but they seem to have such tiny stakes.

[oddjob]

i don't know for sure. i was told about 3 games for sure (not exact details though). i think they're run by the greeks, or a couple of them are.

what's the acepoint club? 5-10 is a bit higher than i'd want to play, so if there's a lower stake game hold em game i'd love to find out about it.

[oddjob]

once again i'm not for certain. as i responded to someone else, i think they're run by the greeks.

what's wrong with the hop sing?

which games are you playing and what limits?

i'll keep you updated as i find out more, but right now i don't even have the bank to get into the game right now.

oddjob

The Hop Sing is also called the chop sing. It is because they always have a few house players that almost act as a team. If you have ever been in the middle of two people with some skills, unlimited bank, and a big desire to chop you up that is the place.

You are probably refering to the med club or matterhorn. Both places are ok, but never been. I play in a 1-5 anytime game with no rake. A 2-4-6 game with a rake of one and an odd one and a 4-8 game that rakes 3-5.

[HDPM]

I remember maybe 15 or 18 years ago some Greek-run games were busted in Denver and it made some headlines. I think the games get busted periodically. I also remember a room that advertised the game in Westword that may have either been busted or shut down. They tried to structure it as a club or something to avoid heat. I personally would not enjoy a ride to the Denver "pre-arraignment detention center" or whatever they call it. I didn't play the private games there though, so I can't really comment. Where are some of these games, as in neighborhood, etc... What neighborhood is Hop Sing in? Forgetting the illegality of the games for a minute, I'd be leery of some places, but I haven't experienced the Denver underground games. I did hang in some places in Denver I wouldn't go to now in my old age tho. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif