Hard Rock - Hollywood, FL

[PittFan]

Just checking to see whether anyone knows the status of the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL. If I'm not mistaken it opens (or has opened) this month. I'll be vacationing in Southern FL for a long weekend next week, and am scoping out my poker options.

I know FL laws ($1/$2, $2/$2 max) make poker in the Sunshine State relatively unattractive, but it's inexpensive practice for me, a relatively new player. If land-based gaming is garbage, I'll probably take a cruise boat out one day.

Any thoughts?

[TomCollins]

A friend of mine who is a bit of a newer player plays there regularly, has a decent time. Its definately not good poker, but its still poker. If you want a real game, take a boat, but limits will be considerably higher.

[alekhine8]

I have played at the Hard Rock here in Tampa where the rules and limits are the same. If you haven't played live much or at all, it is a cheap way to learn.

Also, I have gone with a friend who is starting out and we were able to play at the same table. Its a lot easier to get someone on the table with you when its only like $30 or $40 for a pretty reasonable buy-in.

Other than that, it is what it is. Expect a lot of people in each pot and expect high variance.

[PittFan]

When you say the limits will be higher on the boats, how high are we talking about?

My bankroll & ability are in the 3/6 range, as I am not yet consistently beating the low-limit, loose-passive, 7-see-the-flop games.

Would the boats offer a 3/6 or 4/8 game? Are the games tough or loose? Any specific recommendations re: boats (e.g. St. Tropez)? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[rjbigfish]

I am not sure about the South Florida boats, but the Sun Cruz out of Port Canaveral normally has a $3/$6 Holdem game if there aren't enough people wanting bigger games. The normal games are $5/$10 and $10/$20 Holdem and Omaha 8/b mixed with a kill and sometimes a $10/$20 stud game. If your bankroll limits you to $3/$6 game you are probably better off going to one of the tracks or the Hard Rock to play. The $1/$2 definately wont pressure you and you will have some time to play. Play on the boats is limited to 2 1/2 to 3 hours max before it returns to shore, there is also no guarantee that a game will even be there, especially during the day when there are not as many people on board.

[Slacker13]

The Hard Rock in Hollywood just opened yesterday. Rumor has it they will be hosting large NLHE events but I am going there tonight to clarify this. If you are a mid stakes player then poker here sucks. If you like the lower limits then their is plenty of action, very loose tables and more than your fair share of dipshits.

I personally like the Gambling Boat, The Saint Tropez.
http://www.sttropezcasinocruises.com/

The Saint Tropez has touneys 3 times per week. The last tourney I played paid over $30,000 for first place and the competition is light. They also spread 1/2 - 2/4 - 5/10 & 20/40 and also have a No Limit table going but good luck getting into the No Limit. There is no charge to get on that boat and the drinks are free and they also have a very nice buffet. And if you get busted early they have a nice dance club on the boat too.

I will find out tonight more info on the Hard Rock and let you know. The Seminole reservation which is only 1/2 mile south of the HardRock has NLHE S&G's but be prepared. The games can be easy to beat but the format stinks. They charge $135 per tourney with $30 going to the house and $5 goes to the bad beat jackpot that won't ever get hit because of there ignorant rules. They also start you off at $50/100 blinds and 15 minute rounds. If you don't hit a hand in 3 orbits your shortstacked. I had a delaer one night that was so slow the blinds rose on the 7 seat before the first orbit.

[PittFan]

Appreciate the info, Slacker13. I'll be interested to learn your impressions of the Hard Rock. Good luck tonight.

[Sincere]

[ QUOTE ]
Rumor has it they will be hosting large NLHE events but I am going there tonight to clarify this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Will you post some info on this. I may be going there this weekend. Also, how long does the St. Tropez sail for 5 hours? And do you have to call ahead of time before you sail to get on a list? Thanks.

[SA-Bishop]

I played at one of the 1/2 tables there for about 6 hours last night. It's a nice casino, and they seem to do a good job at keeping the tables full. The quality of dealers varies but is not too bad overall. One annoying thing is that both the small and big blinds were a dollar.

The players....were worse than those on party. for about an hour my table would cap preflop every time with 80% seeing the flop even when capped. People would show bottom pair or even a high card after capping every round. One time 4 people capped the river and queen high took it down. The table relaxed a little after that, and it was a steady stream of people that sat down and played every hand they got dealt until they ran out of money. There were about 60 poker tables, and even at 2am 70% of them were full. I expect that in a few weeks/months it will slow down a little, because the casino just opened two nights ago.

[Slacker13]

The St tropez sails at different times depending on weekend/weekday you should call for times. And yes you should call ahead if you plan on playing tournaments.

[Slacker13]

First of all the Casino is very nice, nicer than the Hard Rock in Vegas. The gaming is exactly the same as Seminole Casino down the street (Seminole also owns the HardRock) which is those ridiculous video slot machines that no one ever wins on and $1-2 Holdem, Omaha, and 7 stud. The poker room is very nice. I asked the poker room manager if they were going to spread multi table tourneys and the response was "not in the near future" which was not the answer I wanted to hear. I didn't play any poker as I just went there to look around, meet some friends, get drunk and watch basketball.
To be honest I most likely will not return there unless i hear they are spreading multi table tourneys. I do not enjoy $1-2 limits.
Bottom line, If your coming to Florida I suggest the HardRock if you like $1-2, if not then the St. Tropez is definately a better choice.
Good Luck!

[alekhine8]

The Tampa Hard Rock is having a $200+$40 tournament in a few weeks. It said it was limited to 120 entrants. Not sure if the other locations in Florida will have multi-table tournaments anytime soon.

[dsprod4ever]

With a $2 limit, what kind of pots, per hand are we talking about? I have a 3 day reservation at this casino this coming weekend and I was wondering if there's any chance for decent winnings? I'm a semi-novice when it comes to poker, I prefer Omaha Hold 'Em. I've never played with such a low limit, however. I know Florida doesn't allow blackjack so I was wondering what peoples' experiences were w/ gambling at the Seminole Hard Rock. All input is welcome.

[alekhine8]

Pots are decent (for $1/$2). I was playing at a 10-handed table and I counted several times in a few hours that I was the only one that folded preflop. Expect 5-7 people to the flop each hand, raise or not.

Combine that with people chasing you with any piece of the flop or any draw and you can get some decent pots.

[dsprod4ever]

So how did you come out, financially and overall w/ the experience?

[TomCollins]

How do you play Omaha Hold'em? Never heard of that game.

[dsprod4ever]

I believe it's almost identical to Texas Hold 'Em. I've played mainly online, made decent money. I don't believe there's a difference between Omaha and Texas Hold 'Em. I could very well be wrong.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't believe there's a difference between Omaha and Texas Hold 'Em.

[/ QUOTE ]
There is actually a big difference. I am pretty sure you get 4 hole cards in Omoha Holdem. The reason it is so popular at the Florida Casino is because the Bad Beat Jackpots are much easier to hit with the additional cards. The Bad beat JP requires the use of two of your hold cards and as you know your chances are greater when holding 4 than two.

[TomCollins]

Yes, I know how to play Omaha, but the question was about Omaha Hold'em. Sorry no one else got my joke.

[ltb]

I was in Hollywood a couple weeks back and stopped by the Hard Rock. Played a couple hours at the 1/2 tables, as I watched a couple of the 2/2 tables and saw that they were pretty much capped on every street regardless of what the players held.

The people sitting 1/2 were pretty bad though - a lot seemed to be there to "gamble," chasing everything to the river. The only people I saw that seemed to know the game at all were very tight and only raised when they had the nuts, so it was a pretty soft game.

If you don't mind the low limits, it's probably a decent place to go.

[dsprod4ever]

When you say capped on the turn, what do you mean by "capped"? Were you able to make any money?

[pokerOpus]

I play at seminole when im not up at school and playing the tables there is nothing like the poker most of you are used to playing. Raising pre-flop is useless. People will chase every straight and flush draw no matter what. It is the most unfufilling poker I have played but the opportunity is there to make some money. Pots can push $40-50 dollars at the 1/2 tables so you essentially have to wait for the nuts. I also think they hold NLHE tourneys on some saturday or sunday mornings during the month which have a decent turn out.


As for "capped"... on the flop, turn and river you cannot keep reraising as much as you want. I think at flop is "capped" at 4 dollars, the turn at 6-8(cant remember) and the river at 8. So basically each player cannot bet more than that dollar amount each round.