big game

[slash 0]

There's nowhere in Atlantic City that spreads anything anywhere close to $4k/8k on any sort of regular basis, if ever. I'd find it hard to believe that there is more than one game of that size in Vegas, too. There are multiple games, and yet Greenstein and Brunson and Ivey and Harman and Giang and whoever else all decide to sit down with each other? They all have egos, but without a doubt, if they could find easier marks and better spots at that level, they would. They're not playing for the company, as they say.Maybe the $4k/8k stud game at Commerce is Forrest's regular game? Sounds like that would be the biggest stud game around.The Big Game is just a nickname for the biggest game in the world that is frequented by Brunson and Ivey and Greenstein et. al.. If there are othe games of that size around, I suppose they aren't called The Big Game. But I really don't think those guys would be playing against each other when they could play against people who suck a lot more for the same amounts of money.When you say the blinds are sometimes $4k and $8k, which games are you referring to? You're not implying that they play $8k/16k in some games, are you? Because they don't. Ivey wants to but hasn't found anybody else that does, yet.From everything I know about the game, all the games are limit and there's a specific rotation that they play. I don't recall the exact games but I believe there are 4.Maybe Daniel could chime in and give us the scoop from his experience there. Hey, it'd be good advertising..... "Open seating on table 12!"

[cashinnow 0]

I was always under the impression that the "big game" was the heads up matches with Andy Beal and "The Corporation" not the 4k-8k game that the big name pros play against each other at the Beliago or when they are on the tournament tour!

Great to see that everyone has a point of view.I used to think the big game was hopscotch on the sidewalk outside of my apartment.But the Andy Beal matches are not the big game. The 4K-8K game regularly spread at the Bellagio (and sometimes elsewhere) is.

My bad the Beal matches are called the world's biggest game, not the big game! P.S. My hopscotch games in my driveway were by far bigger than yours!!!

[TS Clark 0]

what's the rake in the big game?

No rake. They pay a time fee, something like $10 every half hour

I'm just speculating, but I'd be willing to guess that the time charge for the Big Game is more than $10/half.

I don't know what it is, but I doubt it's much more than most of the other higher-stakes tables (80-160, 200-400) pay for time. The Bellagio doesn't host that game and look at it as a bigger money-maker than other high-stakes games. They host it and do the things they do for it because (as Elaine says) it puts "asses in the seats."

[slash 0]

Obviously they don't look at the Big Game as a moneymaker for the room, because it is something of a point of pride and even an attraction for the casino, even though it is in a back room that you can't get into without a quarter million in chips. But I kind of doubt there are $5 or $10 chips on a table where they're playing $4000/$8000 limit poker. Maybe it's a hundred per half. Maybe it is nothing at all. Maybe it is "We'll give you a good dealer and tip them well, and we'll call it square."Someone should go play and find out.

[LuckyMcCatcher 0]

Its amazing little people know about the game. Its not a big deal but people consistently post who think they know what they are talking about, but haven't a clue. The big game is just that. The biggest game in the world. It is spread either at 2k-4k, 1.5-3K, or 4k-8k, it is a mixed game that travels to big tournaments. It gets more press during the series becuse more "live ones" play in it. It is held at either Sams Town or the GOlden Nugget to accomodate Bobby Baldwin who likes to play but doesnt want to play at BEllagio or Mirage due to his working relationship with both casinos. Not sure where it was spread this year. I saw some big game regulars playing at BEllagio during the ME, but Im sure Baldwin was out by then. As far as the big losers. I'm sure noone from that game would ever tell you, but I suspect Berman, Hansen, Elezra, Salem and Farha are all big contributors. Im also sure plenty of one-level down pros routinely take shots and miss. Most of these players suffer in at least one or more of the games and it kills them in the long run. It would be interesting to see if DN could be a consistnt winner in the game.It is a relatively small amount they pay in time. They also tip the dealers like 25 bucks befor e hand and give them a dollar here and there.

[speedz99 145]

As far as blinds go... duh. It's a $4k/8k game -- which means the BLINDS in LIMIT GAMES are $2k/$4k, and the bets are $4k/$8k. I think that should clear up the argument. Different games are played different ways, so one game blinds might actually be $4k/$8k, and in other games they might be $2k/$4k. Glad to see we were all thinking hard about this one. Good try, but no. Sometimes they play 4k-8k, sometimes 2k-4k, and this always refers to bet sizes not blinds.They go 2k-4k when there is a fish that wants to play at those limits, among other reasons.

[LAPoker 0]

Ok now to answer the OP's question. Yes I heard that there was a BIG WINNER. Despite what others have said in this thread the big winner for this trip was Gus Hannsen. I heard that he won over two million in one night. Guess that helps him settle up with Doyal and the boys.

[ambooth 0]

I can't believe my message was so hard to decipher... but it happens...as far Gus Hansen being the big loser in the big game, I don't know that for sure it is simply me passing on a rumor that I have heard hanging around the pokerroom... If anyone cares I have heard that both in Vegas & in Tunica from different people... Also, in you look at Daniel's blog archive Daniel talks about being stuck 1,000,000 at one point in the big game while in LA. He said that they got down to 3 handed with him, Gus, and Phil Ivey, and that all three of them were the losers in the game that night to that point. Daniel made an insane rally and actually won that night, so he had to take a million off those two guys... That is just a little evidence to support what is a total rumor, I am no waying backing the statement that Gus is the usual loser through personal knowledge.Just to clear things up a little more, the WPO that is one of the televised WPT events is a 10k buy in tournament in January in Tunica. Daniel made the final table this year along with Scotty Nyguen.All the top pros play this event, during the month of January since Doyle, Daniel, Phil Ivey, Greenstein, etc. are all here, the game is spread here at the players request.

[LuckyMcCatcher 0]

Though Hansen might have won this year, it is common knowledge around Vegas that he was the contributor in that game. Every dealer that ever dealt that game at Bellagio will tell you. If its a rumor it has been spread by pretty reliable sources.

[crumpentunt 0]

daniel never got even, and certainly wasn't a winner when he ended up playing with hansen and ivey 3 handed after being stuck for a million. from what i remember, he closed it down to losing around 200k or 300k for that night.

[golferbrent 0]

daniel never got even, and certainly wasn't a winner when he ended up playing with hansen and ivey 3 handed after being stuck for a million. from what i remember, he closed it down to losing around 200k or 300k for that night.

Actually, he closed it down to just over 100K loser... something like 119K loser and booked right out of town.

[yeffy 0]

Its amazing little people know about the game. Its not a big deal but people consistently post who think they know what they are talking about, but haven't a clue. The big game is just that. The biggest game in the world. It is spread either at 2k-4k, 1.5-3K, or 4k-8k, it is a mixed game that travels to big tournaments. It gets more press during the series becuse more "live ones" play in it. It is held at either Sams Town or the GOlden Nugget to accomodate Bobby Baldwin who likes to play but doesnt want to play at BEllagio or Mirage due to his working relationship with both casinos. Not sure where it was spread this year. I saw some big game regulars playing at BEllagio during the ME, but Im sure Baldwin was out by then. As far as the big losers. I'm sure noone from that game would ever tell you, but I suspect Berman, Hansen, Elezra, Salem and Farha are all big contributors. Im also sure plenty of one-level down pros routinely take shots and miss. Most of these players suffer in at least one or more of the games and it kills them in the long run. It would be interesting to see if DN could be a consistnt winner in the game.It is a relatively small amount they pay in time. They also tip the dealers like 25 bucks befor e hand and give them a dollar here and there.

It's amazing that you would post something so authoratatively like that telling other they "don't have a clue" and be completely wrong. They do not "tip each dealer $25 before hand". Read pokerworks.com Linda G has been dealing that game since the old days at the Mirage, she moved with them over to the Bellagio. She also writes a daily blog about her experiences. If each player was toking $25 a down the dealers would be making $200 or so for their half in that game. Yet Linda and the other dealers say they are lucky to get out of that game with $10 total in their pocket. Every dealer there would rather deal $4/$8 than $4000/$8000 since they make more money in the smaller game with far less stress. Occasionally someone like Rene (Celine's husband) or Eli or Daniel will toss a dealer a big tip but for the most part they make nothing. So before you put other down for "not having a clue" you should get you facts straight. If you were watching the game and saw that, you probably saw the players paying time at the beginning of a dealers down which goes to the house.

[Guest]

As mentioned in the post above, that woman Linda's blog is a pretty good non-biased account of the big game.http://table-tango.pokerworks.com/category/dear-diary/The Banker, Professor and Suicide King is also a great source of info on the big game. With the exception of the games vs. Beal, the author never really mentions a consistent loser aside from Lyle Berman.

[LuckyMcCatcher 0]

Its amazing little people know about the game. Its not a big deal but people consistently post who think they know what they are talking about, but haven't a clue.  The big game is just that. The biggest game in the world. It is spread either at 2k-4k, 1.5-3K, or 4k-8k,  it is a mixed game that travels to big  tournaments. It gets more press during the series becuse more "live ones" play in it. It is held at either Sams Town or the GOlden Nugget to accomodate Bobby Baldwin who likes to play but doesnt want to play at BEllagio or Mirage due to his working relationship with both casinos. Not sure where it was spread this year.  I saw some big game regulars playing at BEllagio during the ME, but Im sure Baldwin was out by then. As far as the big losers. I'm sure noone from that game would ever tell you, but I suspect Berman, Hansen, Elezra, Salem and Farha are all big contributors. Im also sure plenty of one-level down pros routinely take shots and miss. Most of these players suffer in at least one or more of the games and it kills them in the long run. It would be interesting to see if DN could be a consistnt winner in the game.It is a relatively small amount they pay in time. They also tip the dealers like 25 bucks befor e hand and give them a dollar here and there.

It's amazing that you would post something so authoratatively like that telling other they "don't have a clue" and be completely wrong. They do not "tip each dealer $25 before hand". Read pokerworks.com Linda G has been dealing that game since the old days at the Mirage, she moved with them over to the Bellagio. She also writes a daily blog about her experiences. If each player was toking $25 a down the dealers would be making $200 or so for their half in that game. Yet Linda and the other dealers say they are lucky to get out of that game with $10 total in their pocket. Every dealer there would rather deal $4/$8 than $4000/$8000 since they make more money in the smaller game with far less stress. Occasionally someone like Rene (Celine's husband) or Eli or Daniel will toss a dealer a big tip but for the most part they make nothing. So before you put other down for "not having a clue" you should get you facts straight. If you were watching the game and saw that, you probably saw the players paying time at the beginning of a dealers down which goes to the house.

Im going off what a dealer that deals there now told me. Several. THey get tipped 25 total, plus any thing extra during the 1/2 hour. BTW, Doyle states the tipping procedure in a magazine also. I guess he could be lying.

[LAPoker 0]

You are definitely wrong about the $25 tip thing being common place. I have asked about 10 different dealers at Bellagio if they like dealing that game. All of them said NO emphatically. I then asked them why, and they all stated that the tips suck. Most of them went on to say that they would much rather deal $4/$8, than $4,000/$8,000.

[pokerplayer24 0]

Someone mentioned the big stud game at the commerce. I think thats the game that Larry Flint host's and plays in. Something like 500/1k or 1k/2k i believe.

[The Miler 0]

OK, let me help you all out. Apparantly none of you really know all that much about the big game, and that includes all of you who say you do. How do I know, you ask? Well officially I am a dealer at Bellagio, but mostly I work the floor, and I have worked the big game many times.The limits can be anywhere from 1k-2k, all the way up too 4k-8k and every limit in between. It all depends on who is in the game and what they feel like playing that night. Occasionally there will be two "Big Games" going on at the same time with one of them being like 1.5k-3k and the other being 4k-8k.The game itself is almost allways a mixed game. I have seen just a limit or a no-limit game though. Sometimes guys like Gabe Kaplan are in town and like to play 1k-2k holdem, and the big game players oblidge. The mixed game could be anywhere from 4-10 games, again, depending on who is there. Some mix of holdem, PLH, NLH, Omaha8/b, PLO, hi-low regular, stud, stud8/b, 2-7 triple draw, no limit 2-7 single draw, A-5 triple draw, razz, and chinese poker with the occational variation of one of the above games, like pot limit omaha 8/b. The pot limit and no limit games usually have a cap on them (i.e. you can't lose more than 100,000 on one hand), but not always. Sam Farha hates playing with a cap.The game is normally spread at Bellagio, but does travel around the country during the big tournaments. Also, if Bobby Baldwin is in the game, it may be played at another vegas casino like Sams Town, Aladdin, or Golden Nugget.The players in the game pay $10 per player, per half hour for time. There is no $25 tip that goes the dealer ahead of time. The dealer makes what ever they make. Allthough, the first time I ever dealt this game during the 2003 world series, we did get that $25 when we sat down. As for the dealers not making any money in the game, I personally have never had that problem. This is the easiest game in the world to deal. All you have to do is deal the cards. You don't have to say anything, or remind anyone it's their turn, or anything else. I can assure you that good dealers do fine in this game.I hope this answers all of you questions. Let me know if you have anymore.And by the way, I don't know who the big winner and loser in the game is, nor do I think anyone else does either...with the exception of the players themselves.

[benhoug 0]

The players in the game pay $10 per player, per half hour for time.

Isn't this exactly what I said in like the 4th or 5th post of this thread??? In the words of our good buddy Mike Matusow - "VINDICATION."

[ambooth 0]

that guy just summarized the entire thread, way to go... you could have been a 14 year old and done that...I guess you clarified that all those guys with all that money aren't bad tippers & they all no how to play in turn... NEAT, thanks for the amazing inside info... You were also able to tell us what I and others have said, no one knows who the big loser is in the game, there are just rumors out there!!!!!ONCE AGAIN, let me commend you on an amazingly informative post.

[Huskers20 0]

Give the guy ( the above poster) a break.....There was so many different ideas/opinions flying around, he came in and told it from someone who should really know.Why does everything always have to be a I told you so, or you suck. Why upset a guy who might be able to tell some pretty good stories.Hey keep coming back w/ more from the floor of the Bellagio, if you have good stories the majority of us will appreciate it.Huskers20

[yeffy 0]

that guy just summarized the entire thread, way to go... you could have been a 14 year old and done that...I guess you clarified that all those guys with all that money aren't bad tippers & they all no how to play in turn... NEAT, thanks for the amazing inside info... You were also able to tell us what I and others have said, no one knows who the big loser is in the game, there are just rumors out there!!!!!ONCE AGAIN, let me commend you on an amazingly informative post.

Let me commend you for a completely obnoxious and moronic post.The guy is providing first hand info that summarizes that some people said things that were partially correct, wholly correct, or pulled directly from their CENSORED.Only a 14 year old would insult someone who made a post like his. Now please go find traffic.And to The Miller. I'm glad you never had a problem, but you're a brush. Everyone takes good care of the brush. But the majority of the dealers in that room (other than the newbs who are so excited to deal the big games) hate dealing high-limit and are not shy about discussing it.

[case ace 0]

that guy just summarized the entire thread, way to go... you could have been a 14 year old and done that...I guess you clarified that all those guys with all that money aren't bad tippers & they all no how to play in turn... NEAT, thanks for the amazing inside info... You were also able to tell us what I and others have said, no one knows who the big loser is in the game, there are just rumors out there!!!!!ONCE AGAIN, let me commend you on an amazingly informative post.

Let me commend you for a completely obnoxious and moronic post.The guy is providing first hand info that summarizes that some people said things that were partially correct, wholly correct, or pulled directly from their CENSORED.Only a 14 year old would insult someone who made a post like his. Now please go find traffic.And to The Miller. I'm glad you never had a problem, but you're a brush. Everyone takes good care of the brush. But the majority of the dealers in that room (other than the newbs who are so excited to deal the big games) hate dealing high-limit and are not shy about discussing it.

Yeah, his post was good. Way to many aholes on this forum

[SapphireTiger 0]

that guy just summarized the entire thread, way to go... you could have been a 14 year old and done that...I guess you clarified that all those guys with all that money aren't bad tippers & they all no how to play in turn... NEAT, thanks for the amazing inside info... You were also able to tell us what I and others have said, no one knows who the big loser is in the game, there are just rumors out there!!!!!ONCE AGAIN, let me commend you on an amazingly informative post.

you.are.an.idiot.