Trump, IN $200 NL trip report

[CMP]

Limit HE student of a few years, NLHE total noob - actually, first time playing NLHE cash game in a casino with such a large (compared to online and home games) buyin and blinds.

I played in the $200 buy-in $2-5 blind game at Trump in Gary, IN on Saturday. I arrived around 4 and left around 10. When I arrived, there was only 1 NL game going, the $200, and I took 1 of 2 open seats. By the time I left, they had started the big game ($400 min buyin NL), and had a must-move game for the $200 NL. Needless to say, the game was much better when I left than when I sat down, as I came to find out that my game was full of regulars, about half of whom were waiting for the big game to start, but I was on a bit of a timeline.

There were a few identifiable weak spots, and one certifiable maniac for a while. Overall, it seems like all the trickiness in the game came pre-flop, and that the post-flop play was either exceptional or very straightforward (my guess – the latter). There were some pre-flop bluffs picked off, but all the big post-flop moves either went un-called or were backed up by the strength of what they represented. To the latter point, it seems like you could get paid off if you made a good hand and someone else made 2nd best.

Casino poker is rigged! On consecutive hands, we saw:

1)a one-outer; 3-way pot, A-J-3 flop, bet-raise-all-in-call-call (2 shorter stacks all-in vs. one of the big stacks) – big stack w/AJ, both short stacks w/A3, turn was a blank, river was the case 3
2)a flopped royal with another made flush out against it

When I return to the game in the future, my strategy will be to play small pots in good position, but with the underlying thought of looking for a double-up hand. Once you had a bigger stack (2x, 3x, 4x buyin), it seemed easier to play in and purchase a lot of small/mid pots from those with just one buyin. Is this sound thinking?

This time around, it didn’t go as well as I would’ve hoped – I played break-even poker, which means I left down an amount equal to what I paid in time and tokes.

CMP

[Iplayragstoo]

I think if you stick it out, you will find this game very good. I found that I got paid off alot when I made hands in this game, i have played in it several times, and gotten paid off every time. Its not a game you want to have tight time lines/restrictions on. Enjoy the white meat! They said they were gonna be spreading this game everyday, I have been unbale to get over there for a month or so, do you know if it is still going on a daily basis? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[CMP]

[ QUOTE ]
I think if you stick it out, you will find this game very good.

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Seemed like it -- next time, I'd want to arrive after the big game opens, and after they open the 2nd table, if possible -- the people coming over from the must-move were definitely pretty green looking.

[ QUOTE ]
I have been unbale to get over there for a month or so, do you know if it is still going on a daily basis? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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It's been longer than that for me since I've been to Trump, so sorry, don't know.

CMP

[Iplayragstoo]

If work wasnt killing me I would play in that game 2-3 times a week its so good, its easy to x2x3x4 your cash if you have any skills at all. The last time I was there one of the players didnt under stand that he could bet whatever he wanted too, and another guy wanted to make sure this is what they were playing on "TV" [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] The only bad part was they didnt reload enough. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[casinogosain]

[ QUOTE ]
They said they were gonna be spreading this game everyday, I have been unbale to get over there for a month or so, do you know if it is still going on a daily basis? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

They do appear to spread it everyday - but it depends on interest. There are times when it doesn't get going until 9-10pm.

-Ash

[PITTM]

how do they do the rake/time collection for that game? in my local 1/1/2 max 100 buy in game it is 6 dollars/half hour, absolutely brutal on tight players like me.

rj

[casinogosain]

The rake is the same as the game you play in:
$2/5NL, $200-max - $6/half hour
$5/10NL, $400-MIN - $7/half hour (much more reasonable)

FWIW, the game at Harrah's ($2/5NL, $500-max) has a $1/person/half hour charge up to $8/half hour. Absolutely brutal, and completely in line with their horrendous rakes/fees.

-Ash

[aphoward]

This is good to know, I hope to hit up one or both of these games sometime. I've been playing poker for a few years, both home games and online, but have yet to give casino play a try (mainly because I just turned 21 this summer, heh). People have told me Trump is the better place because of the rake. I'm much more familiar with NL, but I seem to make more money consistently with Limit online.