Pokerkid555 0 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 So I'm going to be making a trip up to Turning Stone Casino in New York at the end of the month since it's one of the few casinos to offer play to 18+ and I'm just trying to get some live game experience at a casino under my belt since online poker is also no longer an option and my home games I used to have broke so this is literally my only way to get a real live game action.So, I know this isn't exactly the best casino out there but in general how is it? Also, what I really want to know about is the action. I plan on entering the tournament on Saturday Morning ($100 deep stack) and Saturday night ($125 deep stack and bounty) and possibly the early one on Sunday. Anyone who has been there before know the general turnout for the daily tournaments at Turning Stone on the weekend especially? Are the turnouts for these tournys any decent?Also, how are the cash games? I know they have plenty of NL hold em options but are there usually Omaha tables going on because I'd love to get into a cash game of that. Sit N gos any good either?Any other reviews or advice in general would be cool. Like I said I know turning stone isn't exactly a top choice casino but its really my only option so I'm just wondering about the action and tourny turnout there and whatever else. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
DinkDonk 1 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I've yet to play a tourney there, but I've played cash games on and off over the past few years and am playing there a lot this summer. The NL games are really, really good right now. They pretty much only spread 1/2 and 2/5, but both levels are eminently beatable. I haven't ever seen a PLO game run, but they usually have 5/10 O8. They spread low-stakes LHE all the time and bigger games (20/40, 30/60, sometimes 50/100) on weekends and Tuesdays. The room isn't nearly as bad is at used to be when I played there regularly 3 or 4 years ago. The floor is definitely much more competent, the dealers are solid for the most part, they serve alcohol now, and it's just in general a much friendlier place than it used to be. For a place to play live before you're 21, you could do a lot worse. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 So I'm going to be making a trip up to Turning Stone Casino in New York at the end of the month since it's one of the few casinos to offer play to 18+ and I'm just trying to get some live game experience at a casino under my belt since online poker is also no longer an option and my home games I used to have broke so this is literally my only way to get a real live game action.So, I know this isn't exactly the best casino out there but in general how is it? Also, what I really want to know about is the action. I plan on entering the tournament on Saturday Morning ($100 deep stack) and Saturday night ($125 deep stack and bounty) and possibly the early one on Sunday. Anyone who has been there before know the general turnout for the daily tournaments at Turning Stone on the weekend especially? Are the turnouts for these tournys any decent?Also, how are the cash games? I know they have plenty of NL hold em options but are there usually Omaha tables going on because I'd love to get into a cash game of that. Sit N gos any good either?Any other reviews or advice in general would be cool. Like I said I know turning stone isn't exactly a top choice casino but its really my only option so I'm just wondering about the action and tourny turnout there and whatever else. Thanks.TS is my home casino, not that I go very much anymore. The turnout for daily tournaments, even weekend ones usually isn't that great. The higher buyin ones usually don't go over 100 people and the lower buyin ones generally don't go over 60 or so. People usually go to Turning Stone for the cash play more than anything else, the tournaments are just a distraction or a reason to get out of bed if you're staying the weekend. If you're thinking of making a trip for tournaments, I'd recommend holding your trip until the Empire State Championships are going next month...those tournaments are VERY well attended and the players usually aren't all that good. http://www.turningstone.com/game/pokerempire.phpAs for cash play, it's a holdem room...equal parts limit and no-limit. Getting a game at any other discipline is nearly impossible, maybe, MAYBE on the weekends but even that is very rare. The cash play is okay, used to be lots of college kids and 18-20yo's who were terrible at live poker but that's changed...it's still young kids but they're not terrible anymore, they just play the standard online version of low-limit NLHE which is never fold preflop and never fold a pair for anything less than most of your stack. If you can beat that game, more power to you...I have trouble with it so I haven't been playing very much as a result. As far as the allegation that TS isn't the best casino out there...someone gave you some bad information. It's actually a very nice casino...they have everything, it's huge, they spread a variety of limits for table games, good restaurants for any budget, good players club program, you can get poker-room rates on rooms which will save you money (make sure to ask about that if you're staying...you have to commit to like 4-6 hours of poker play per day but you'll be doing that anyway, and the room will cost you like $80 as opposed to like $180...that's the bad thing about being the only game in town...rooms are ridiculous expensive)......anyway, Turning Stone isn't a dumpy little throwaway casino, it's legit. The poker room rivals anything in Vegas for size and the number of games going at any given time, and I just got back from Vegas so I'm very comfortable saying that. For straight gambling and especially poker, there's no difference between TS and anything in Vegas or Atlantic City.Hope that helps, ask me anything you'd like. Good luck and enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites
wsox8 10 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 you owe me $5 Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 you owe me $5I do? Link to post Share on other sites
wsox8 10 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I do?nah, pokerkid555555555. but you can give me $5 if you want Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 nah, pokerkid555555555. but you can give me $5 if you wantBet me something in hockey for next season...I'm easy $$$ at prop bets. Link to post Share on other sites
Pokerkid555 0 Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 you owe me $5Let me just send it your way through Full Tilt or Pokerstars....o wait. Meet at turning stone and I'll send $10 your way ;)Thanks for the info AJS. I think I'm actually going to make two trips one on the last weekend of july with my girlfriend and one two weeks later with friends for the empire state tournaments. Are the daily tournament structures at least decent that allow a good amount of play?Also, would you recommend anything for my girlfriend while I'm playing in a tourny or gambling...hahaha?Thanks a bunch. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Thanks for the info AJS. I think I'm actually going to make two trips one on the last weekend of july with my girlfriend and one two weeks later with friends for the empire state tournaments. Are the daily tournament structures at least decent that allow a good amount of play?Also, would you recommend anything for my girlfriend while I'm playing in a tourny or gambling...hahaha?Thanks a bunch.The dailies ran pretty fast when I was playing them, but it looks like they've changed the structure since I last played to an "all deep stack, all the time" format so it's entirely possible that they added time to the levels in addition to chips to the stacks. I want to say the levels ran about 15 minutes the last time I played...so pretty quick. The big non-turbo tournaments they run seasonally are better, at least 30 minute levels and longer the higher the buyins go. For your girlfriend...if she can't sit at the slot machines and be happy doing that, there probably isn't that much in the casino for her to do by herself that doesn't run the risk of massive damage to your finances. There's golf (very expensive), tennis (no idea), there's a spa that I have to assume costs a fortune, there has to be at least one pool but I've never been to it...nothing really in the way of shopping although she could always take your car to Carousel Mall in Syracuse (about 30 mins) or the Premium Outlets in Waterloo (not that much further, maybe an hour each way). The outlet center is huge and has everything, worth the extra 30 mins if she's a shopper. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=9The bad thing about Turning Stone is that it's basically by itself, the casino and all the land around it are tribal-owned so no one is allowed to profit from the fact that it's there by building industry around it. There's a gas station and a motel across the street, that's basically it. There's couple-type stuff that you can do at the casino, there's a comedy club and at least one decent dance club, plus good restaurants and if you get lucky on the weekend there's usually a traveling big-name act coming through, might be someone interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
wsox8 10 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Bet me something in hockey for next season...I'm easy $$$ at prop bets.I'll try to find something but you might have to offer something because my hockey knowledge is pathetic. Or I could just take advantage of serge Let me just send it your way through Full Tilt or Pokerstars....o wait. Meet at turning stone and I'll send $10 your way well that's mean. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I'll try to find something but you might have to offer something because my hockey knowledge is pathetic. Or I could just take advantage of serge I lose to Serge...I'm basically the only one. You should be looking to take advantage of me. Link to post Share on other sites
Pokerkid555 0 Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 The dailies ran pretty fast when I was playing them, but it looks like they've changed the structure since I last played to an "all deep stack, all the time" format so it's entirely possible that they added time to the levels in addition to chips to the stacks. I want to say the levels ran about 15 minutes the last time I played...so pretty quick. The big non-turbo tournaments they run seasonally are better, at least 30 minute levels and longer the higher the buyins go. For your girlfriend...if she can't sit at the slot machines and be happy doing that, there probably isn't that much in the casino for her to do by herself that doesn't run the risk of massive damage to your finances. There's golf (very expensive), tennis (no idea), there's a spa that I have to assume costs a fortune, there has to be at least one pool but I've never been to it...nothing really in the way of shopping although she could always take your car to Carousel Mall in Syracuse (about 30 mins) or the Premium Outlets in Waterloo (not that much further, maybe an hour each way). The outlet center is huge and has everything, worth the extra 30 mins if she's a shopper. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=9The bad thing about Turning Stone is that it's basically by itself, the casino and all the land around it are tribal-owned so no one is allowed to profit from the fact that it's there by building industry around it. There's a gas station and a motel across the street, that's basically it. There's couple-type stuff that you can do at the casino, there's a comedy club and at least one decent dance club, plus good restaurants and if you get lucky on the weekend there's usually a traveling big-name act coming through, might be someone interesting.Yeah, I think I'm going to make two trips one the last weekend in july with my girlfriend and another two weeks later about for the Empire State with some serious poker friends.Mucho gracias man I really appreciate the help and advice. Link to post Share on other sites
DinkDonk 1 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 All of Adam's advice is all very good. I like the poker room a bit less than he does, though. For one thing, the rake at 1/2 is really high, to the point where it's probably close to unbeatable long-term. I also don't think that they have limits for all levels as he said. Except for certain days and weekends, they really only run 1/2 (a bunch of tables) and 2/5 NL (usually only one table and maybe a must-move), 2/4 and 3/6 LHE, and 5/10 O8. I haven't seen a Stud game run in years, I've never seen a PLO game, any kind of draw game, or any kind of mixed game in recent memory. And I haven't seen a 5/10 NL run yet this year and only once have I seen a LHE game lower than 20/40 and higher than 3/6. However, I do think it's one of the best poker rooms around for 2/5 NL and any LHE game 20/40 or higher. The action is pretty consistent, the games are really soft, and the players/dealers/floorpeople are generally much more pleasant than the average casino. And as he says, the casino is pretty nice, but incredibly isolated. All of the gf advice is exactly as I would give. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Yeah, I think I'm going to make two trips one the last weekend in july with my girlfriend and another two weeks later about for the Empire State with some serious poker friends.Mucho gracias man I really appreciate the help and advice.You're very welcome, enjoy and good luck!All of Adam's advice is all very good. I like the poker room a bit less than he does, though. For one thing, the rake at 1/2 is really high, to the point where it's probably close to unbeatable long-term. I also don't think that they have limits for all levels as he said. Except for certain days and weekends, they really only run 1/2 (a bunch of tables) and 2/5 NL (usually only one table and maybe a must-move), 2/4 and 3/6 LHE, and 5/10 O8. I haven't seen a Stud game run in years, I've never seen a PLO game, any kind of draw game, or any kind of mixed game in recent memory. And I haven't seen a 5/10 NL run yet this year and only once have I seen a LHE game lower than 20/40 and higher than 3/6. However, I do think it's one of the best poker rooms around for 2/5 NL and any LHE game 20/40 or higher. The action is pretty consistent, the games are really soft, and the players/dealers/floorpeople are generally much more pleasant than the average casino. And as he says, the casino is pretty nice, but incredibly isolated. All of the gf advice is exactly as I would give.They used to run a 15/30 game very regularly but it's entirely possible that those players all graduated to 20/40 and now that's the "big game" over on the side by the windows. I saw a 10/25NL game running once at those side tables, but that was during one of the big seasonal events and it was a Saturday night on top of it. I'm basically of the same mindset you are that the 1/2NL is unbeatable, both due to the players and the rake. I've resigned myself to extending my break from poker until I can save up a reasonable roll to play 2/5NL without feeling the pinch if I lose a couple buyins. I haven't been to TS since November and November was my first trip in like a year, but when I was playing a lot I was there at least once a month. Link to post Share on other sites
DinkDonk 1 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 You're very welcome, enjoy and good luck!They used to run a 15/30 game very regularly but it's entirely possible that those players all graduated to 20/40 and now that's the "big game" over on the side by the windows. I saw a 10/25NL game running once at those side tables, but that was during one of the big seasonal events and it was a Saturday night on top of it. I'm basically of the same mindset you are that the 1/2NL is unbeatable, both due to the players and the rake. I've resigned myself to extending my break from poker until I can save up a reasonable roll to play 2/5NL without feeling the pinch if I lose a couple buyins. I haven't been to TS since November and November was my first trip in like a year, but when I was playing a lot I was there at least once a month.Yeah, I remember when there were regular 10/20 and 15/30 games, but now it's usually just one 30/60 (sometimes kicked up to 50/100 or dropped to 20/40) and only on weekends and Tuesdays. Oddly, they don't run the big games in the side windows anymore, just one table at the back next to the floor desk. And like you said, bigger stuff definitely runs when tournaments are in town. I expect there were be a lot more games during the upcoming series they're running (Empire State something, I think?) Link to post Share on other sites
Mercury69 3 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Girlfriend recap: "OUTLET MALL" Link to post Share on other sites
Pokerkid555 0 Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 Also, has anyone used the pokertickets.com site or whatever to sign up for tournaments ahead of time? Is that site worth using? Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Also, has anyone used the pokertickets.com site or whatever to sign up for tournaments ahead of time? Is that site worth using?Never used it, but you wouldn't be able to at TS anyway. You have to have a players club card to register for tournaments and you have to register in person. There wouldn't be any reason to preregister for a TS daily anyway, it's not like they ever cap out. Link to post Share on other sites
Pokerkid555 0 Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 Oh okay, I was actually just asking because on turning stone website it had the link to preregister for tournaments online using that site. Got it though. Link to post Share on other sites
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