Poker at Tampa Hard Rock, FL

[DoubleJ Chef]

I played there for a while when I lived in tampa. Bottom line-- its 1-2 limit only. No fold 'em hold 'em. Chasers galore. It is fairly difficult to make much money there, but it can be done. There is a 10% rake up to $4, plus a $1.00 jackpot taken out of each pot. The jackpot pays on a spade royal, and I have seen it over $60k. It is a good room with very good dealers for the most part, and I have many friends that deal there.

Your best bet is to play there with hopes of meeting some people who know of some home games. Thats what I did.

They do run some tourneys with satellite tables to win entries. The only problem is they rake the hell out of these tournaments--- for example $80 buy in 1 table satellite, with the winner getting a seat to the $550 tourney.....hmmmmm lets see $80 X 10 = $800....minus $550.....looks like a $250 rake off of a satellite, and I'm pretty sure the rake is about the same for the big tourney.

I like playing over in St. Pete at derby lane dog track, and at Tampa Bay Downs, the horse track which are both 1-2 spread, so you can actually get some people off of their hands preflop by making it 8 dollar capped vs. 4 dollars. Let me know if you have any specific questions about any of the places down there.

I will be moving back down to florida in the next few weeks and will be dealing at one of the card rooms.

-Chef

[TPL]

I stopped by Tampa Bay Downs yesterday and they were running a dealer's school. I was told there's no poker until Dec. 11.

I played Derby Lane last few days, for the first time. $2 single blind hold 'em. I went early afternoon, and found it very easy to make money, but not overly challenging. The seniors chase a bunch, so any quality cards will pay off nicely. I chased a couple early hands to the turn, just to establish an image similar to the older people who had looked at me like I was a demon when I sat down. Then I sat tight for a bit and got callers galore when I got some cards. You can do one raise to $4 without losing too many players, but beyond that they fold quickly unless they have a real hand. I took a bit of money the first day off the older ladies that called with any pair. They were great to play with, they keep quiet and their elbows are automatic.

The second day was different. I went later in the day, when the younger guys came out in force. Most are playing after busting out of the turbo tourneys they run during the day. Lots of wild play. You can make money playing tight, but every hand will cost you $6-8 a betting round and there were almost always callers with the most marginal cards imaginable. Lots of big swings up and down because of a wild-man rivering a straight or flush. Very hard to read these guys. I follow the 30-bet rule so in this room I leave when I lose $60. It took me 6.5 hrs to do so, which gives you an idea of how tight I had to play given that 2 hands to the river at this table would have busted me. As it was, I came back from the felt 3 times. Just a wild, wild afternoon and evening. I played against one big guy that had the words "ALL IN" tattoed down each forearm, so that's what you saw every time you played a hand against him. Gives you an idea of the mindset. Even though I lost $60, I had a great time and gained a lot of confidence after standing up to the barrage as long as I did.

I went back the following afternoon, early, and had a mixed young/old table. The young guys had apparently been in the room the previous day and were all talking about the wild play they saw at my table, so I guess it wasn't the norm. Broke even that day.

Net profit after 12 hrs table time over 3 days was $110, all made $2 at a time. I'm keeping my day job. And I'm only playing the senior citizens in the future, I'm not good enough to stand up to the wild boys.

[BigBluffer]

Welcome to Florida poker.

You wanna see action? Try Florida Action Hold'em! $2 antes, $1 and $2 blinds, $2 bets on all rounds, maximum 3 raises. You think the game with the young guns was wild? You ain't seen nothin' yet! How about $90 in the pot pre-flop, capping all rounds, seeing it to the river with 7-5 offsuit and winning with a rivered straight. Happens at least twice an hour. Fasten your seat belt when you sit down.

[TPL]

Where is this?

Sounds fun!

[BigBluffer]

Immokalee Seminole Casino