Tama vs. St. Ignace (Midwestern BJTers)

The most prevalent factor deciding which one to play will be where you live because they're both attractive events with excellent SVs.
Being so much closer to Tama it's a nobrainer for me and the SV is better there. St. Ignace has very good SV also and will probably be the choice of LeftNut and others over that way for the same reason.
Both events are the weekend of October 2-4, unfortunately. It's a shame that we're all forced to miss one of them because of scheduling!

Billy C

 

What to do on Oct 2nd?

I am going to play a little what if …
Lets pretend I live in South Bend Indiana… that puts me 6 hours away from both venues.

If I look at value of the buy-in even though the St. Ignace is $50 more it is an extra night, 3 additional meal coupons, a bunch of points and play, plus a gift … Ohhh I do hope it is a pink shirt! For the entertainment value, I vote St. Ignace.

If I look at prize money the total purse at Meskwaki is $63K dependent and at St. Ignace is $30K dependent. One vote for Meskwaki. If I look at payout Meskwaki is paying 24 places and St. Ignace is paying 7. Another vote for Meskwaki.

So I have 2 votes Meskwaki and 1 vote St. Ignace.

Being from West Bend and with one month left of my rookie year I will assume I have not played in either casino tournament or cash. An online visit to each casino gives me a nice brochure for Meskwaki and contact name for St. Ignace.

So until I hear back from St. Ignace, I need to pause my decision. Once I have the rules I can examine the advancement pattern, and weird rules that I will have to work with like “pitch tucking” and “no-limit” last five hands.

I hope this provokes a little thought from new players and tournament directors / organizers.

EE

 

Whoa, there, don't get me wrong. My bitching about the tucked BJ rule in another thread isn't meant to detract from St. Ignace's otherwise very fine tournament. I still think it's the best deal in the Midwest. It makes my guts churn to see Meskwaki choose the same weekend for their BJT.

Our dilemma is compounded by the difference in the driving distance. Meskwaki is a better paying tournament for the same $$$. They also pay double the entry fee for making the semifinals where Ignace pays zip for that. But it's another 4 to 5 hours on the road for Meskwaki - each way. The formats are similar, at least 2 advance every round although both of them have that damned 1-advance in the semi. Meskwaki has TWO really silly rules, the first being that no limit for the last five hands. They've also got this goofy insurance bet that will allow you to actually increase your chip stack when the dealer paints the ace.

There are many other factors we're considering while comparing these two, I won't bore everyone unless folks really want to see them.

 

Not accusing anyone of anything

I want this to be an open an honest discussion of what factors I look at and others when faced with the delima of two good well run tournaments on the same weekend.

For me pitch tournaments and pitch rules would be a deal breaker even if it was across the street because I would rather play shoe.

I forgot about the insurance rule a meskwaki that one rocked I took advantage of that for about $500 in second round. Others thought I was cheating but I was just playing a rule to its full advantage.

Every player looks at different factors when making this decision I just want to see some of the other considerations. Some weekends during season there are tournaments in Biloxi and Vegas what makes one better then the other.

Sorry for any offence.
EE

 

No offense taken!!!!!! Simply didn't want you to make your decision based on my ranting about one rule at Ignace, that's all.

BTW, if anyone wants a copy of Ignace's rules, I have a copy that's about 2 years old. Don't think they've changed anything since then. PM me with your email addy and I'll send the WORD file as an attachment when I can.

 

2009 April Meskwaki Insurance Rule

stated that you are allowed to insure up to the "full" amount.
The intent was only on a minimum but they did not submit the rule that way to the gaming commission so you could insure a $500 bet with $500 at the insurance line for 2:1.
I think I explained that right ... here is a cross check ...
You have $500 bet you get your once per round natural feeling pretty good about life, and then the dealer flips the dreaded bullet. If you insure you are allowed to insure up to the full amount of the bet i.e. push $500 to the line. If the dealer paints the ace, you push your natural and get 2:1 on the insurance. If nobody's home then you lose your insurance bet but get 2:1 on the natural.
It can cause a major swing in the last 5 hands where there is no limit on the wager.
The rules preview of the online flyer only states that insurance will be offered not to what limit. The full package may expound further ... it's a playable rule, more so then the no-limit.

What is the don't ask wont tell side action? I don't think we've discussed this one yet.

EE

 

Where are they?

Here's an idea that might encourage participation by BJTF members at some of these tournaments.

I, for one, have no clue where some of these sites are. For example, although I was born and raised in Iowa, I have no clue where Tama is located. I also don't know where Ignance is.

So,if when a tournament is posted maybe someone who knows could also add this information;
Distance to nearest airport (commercial not commuter)
Modes and approximate cost of transportation to casino
On site or nearby hotels

This kind of information would be especially helpful for midwest, and California tournament sites.

 

Location

Tama is pretty much central Iowa about 75 miles straight west of Cedar Rapids. St. Ignace is where upper and lower MI meet on the north end of the 5 mile Mackinac bridge that connects the upper peninsula to lower MI (I think this bridge is also the divider between lakes Michigan and Huron). 625 miles between these two casinos so NO way to play both events.
I don't have answers for your other questions.

Billy C

 

Tama

Blackjack pays 2-1?

 

Fredguy - Room isn't a problem at either Tama or St. Ignace, it's included with the entry fee.
Tama gives you Friday and Saturday night, Ignace gives you those plus Sunday night if you want it.
For Tama, it's roughly halfway between Cedar Rapids and Des Moines so pick one for an airport.
For Ignace, I honestly have no idea where the nearest puddlejumper airport would be. Sault St. Marie? Mackinaw City? Billy C described the location perfectly, it's the first town after you cross the Mighty Mac into the Upper Peninsula.
The casino is about a half mile after you pass Rabbit's Back Road.... seriously! :laugh:

Noman - Memory is fuzzy but I'm about 80% sure Tama was 2:1 BJ.

 

Fredguy

To the left of the message forum on the home page is a link to casinos. Click it. All the states come up. Click the state and all the casinos in that state are listed, most with maps and links to the casinos web page.

 

Unlimited bet

I really thought they would change that because several of us voiced displeasure but that's what I get for thinking. That alone increases the "luck factor" greatly!
I for one, will attempt to get both of these places to try avoiding this scheduling conflict in the future. Hope to get mutual aid there from others that it would benefit. In this economy both places may suffer because of this.
I can think of several people besides myself that desire to play both venues.

Billy C

 

St Ignace

Monkeysystem you are correct on the 150 point's slot play and 2 hours table play I just got in this year for the first time the director told me I would have to play at least 2 hour's table game's or 150 point's on slot play or I cant come back for the next tournament I dont think that is out of line

 

doug is right

The don't ask-won't tell thing really isn't an issue at Ignace as his post indicates and anyone not willing to meet that easy criteria shouldn't complain. They even made it easier to achieve by not requiring any table play. You can do it all on machines.
Hell, LeftNut, Deb and me have the 150 in our first few hours in the joint!

Billy C

 

Could change

You're probably right. By typically filling their tourneys they've had the ability to cherry pick entrants BUT this scheduling fiasco coupled with the economy could haunt them.
My belief is I'm one of several "regulars" that will be at Tama in October! I'll miss this very good event, rapport with many old friends, the pretty drive with the fall colors (Iowa has a lot more corn than trees) and other things but they forced us to prioritize. I'm quite sure that Ignace had picked the date long before Meskwaki did.

Billy C