noman
Top Member
I am encouraged by all the good reviews of the Oklahoma Buffalo Run Casino tournament, including side play options. It's certainly a must make.
The Four Winds, in New Buffalo MI continues to be a good, well run competitive monthly tourney with good participation and respectable final table payouts. They do have one glitch with large turn outs where they have more semifinal tables than spots in the final. (One advancing from each semi table.) They compensate by giving the lowest semifinal table winner 2% of the prize pool. But they could just as easily have six tables of seven players and one of six players. Six of one half a dozen of the other. At least they pay all semi finalist winners.
Not the case at Firekeepers in Battle Creek, MI. Their monthly third Thursday of the month has only run for four months with stagnant participation and mediocre prize pools. With low turnout in October they only paid down to five players of the six at the final table. Bubble "boys" in both poker and BJ tournaments are common, but I've never seen it at a final table. With the effort it takes to get to a final table it's deflating and insulting to not pay all finalists. At Firekeepers especially since players in EVERY round pay,(they don't have to) an add of $5 for an additional $500 in chips. A finalist pays an additional $20 over the $85 entry fee.
They also have a quirk in their table deal. They use a button for first bet and first decision, but deal the cards from first base every time.. There is also an oft putting arrogance from the tournament directors and a select few know it all experienced dealers. The remainder of the dealers are novices. In short Firekeepers is a borderline event unless there is mass improvement. More than one participant told me it wasn't worth it and they would not return.
On a last note, there has to be a certainty of a Vegas tournament actually taking place, not cancelling at the last minute. But casino marketing being what it is, doesn't account for the intelligence of folks on this site.
The Four Winds, in New Buffalo MI continues to be a good, well run competitive monthly tourney with good participation and respectable final table payouts. They do have one glitch with large turn outs where they have more semifinal tables than spots in the final. (One advancing from each semi table.) They compensate by giving the lowest semifinal table winner 2% of the prize pool. But they could just as easily have six tables of seven players and one of six players. Six of one half a dozen of the other. At least they pay all semi finalist winners.
Not the case at Firekeepers in Battle Creek, MI. Their monthly third Thursday of the month has only run for four months with stagnant participation and mediocre prize pools. With low turnout in October they only paid down to five players of the six at the final table. Bubble "boys" in both poker and BJ tournaments are common, but I've never seen it at a final table. With the effort it takes to get to a final table it's deflating and insulting to not pay all finalists. At Firekeepers especially since players in EVERY round pay,(they don't have to) an add of $5 for an additional $500 in chips. A finalist pays an additional $20 over the $85 entry fee.
They also have a quirk in their table deal. They use a button for first bet and first decision, but deal the cards from first base every time.. There is also an oft putting arrogance from the tournament directors and a select few know it all experienced dealers. The remainder of the dealers are novices. In short Firekeepers is a borderline event unless there is mass improvement. More than one participant told me it wasn't worth it and they would not return.
On a last note, there has to be a certainty of a Vegas tournament actually taking place, not cancelling at the last minute. But casino marketing being what it is, doesn't account for the intelligence of folks on this site.
