Detroit

It is true. However, sounds like they didn’t change the buy ins at all which I’m very disappointed at. No reason why you should be able to buy into 2/5 for $200, less than the max at 1/3. Was hoping 1/3 would be $100-$400 and 2/5 $400-$1k

The double board bomb pots were pretty stupid and didn't induce any action, plus the rake on those is $10. (Optional participation)
Action otherwise seems pretty good in the 1/3. Min buy-in $50 but I didn't see many stacks under $200.

Hey all:

I was playing the pokers the other day at MGM. EVERY ONE of their tables was full! They had a robust waiting listing for multiple games at 10 PM.

Motorcity had 5 tables going and Greektown had two (according to Bravo Poker).

Clearly, MGM is starting to pull away from their competition. IF Motorcity wants to have poker, they have made a major mistake by moving the room and getting rid of food.

All of the big money games were also going on at MGM, nothing greater than 1/3 at Motorcity or Greektown.

Hey all:

I was back to MGM last night. It was pretty busy, but not quite as busy the week before. The weather was pretty bad out though, so I guess that is to be expected.

They are still running the bomb pots. I've stopped playing it. I've never one both, but I have chopped a couple of times. In the event of a chop, it is likely that the house is the only winner. The rake is simply too much.

I've said it before and I'll say it again....the rake of $6+$2 at 1/3 is simply crippling over the long run. I can easily play a 4-5-6 hour session. In that session, I'll see NUMEROUS losers who get totally felted. Sometimes those players get felted multiple times. Then there are a bunch of players that start with $200 or $300, but leave with under a $100. Obviously there will be winners, and a couple of them might do very well. I was fortunate that I won a 3 way all in pot, I had the other players covered, so I went from losing to up a bit over $200. In my session, I was the "big winner"! haha. There were a couple of people that made close to $100, but a TON of people who simply lost.

In the long run, I think a player needs to go to 2/5 (or higher) OR if they are playing at 1/3, they need to be at a table with deep pocketed, loose players.

There needs to be a mass movement to live casinos spreading 2/5 as the lowest limit with the rake it’s 2024 limits need to go up with inflation sometime…

Why in the world would a casino get rid of their amazing rake trap that people are lining up to play. As of 3pm on a Monday MGM has ten 1-3 NL games and three 2-5 NL games. The buying power of $200 compared to a decade ago is only just above $250. Its amazing the rake hasn't gone higher since it was $6 for near 20 years now. https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showp...

It's hard to beat a game when a $100+ comes off the table every hour and everyone is nitting it up for jackpots. Like I said before I'm honestly shocked they haven't tried to raise it in almost 20 years. https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showp...

Is there a list? Then they must not be charging too much.

Yes .. 100% winning Players will win less and losing Players will lose 'faster'. But as long as there's a healthy list the business of Poker can go ahead and conduct 'business' and answer to the higher ups in the casino .. as well as pay themselves a touch more every so often, eh?

Let's compare that Big Mac price to Rake over the last 10 years, eh? GL

They didn't increase the cap, so max buy in at 1/3 is 100bbs. Even though it's very reg heavy, even on the weekends, I prefer 2/5 at MGM. It's much harder to find a well run table at 1/3, and they're typically short stack. 2/5 really only swells up for a 4 hour period on the weekends, 7-11PM.

MGM's Last hand standing, the 6-hi straight flush high hand for $10,000 finally got paid out. Now the waiting lists seem a bit more reasonable, but the 1/3 game will probably remain more popular than the 1/2 at places nearby

Any word on if 1/3 is staying at $300 cap? Really should be $500 or even match the stack

Large casinos who are constantly running 2-3 stake levels of NL will try to keep the BI at the lowest level 'low' so as to not scare off the Players if they feel too bullied by the larger stakes just sitting down and dominating their smaller stack (which may be 3x a min buy for them).

While most poker Players know that 100bb is 'nothing' in a lot of spots, it's still $300 to a lot of Players in larger markets so the casinos can (and will) do what it takes to force the deeper pockets to play 2/5 and leave the 'social' Players alone at 1/2-1/3. GL

Looks like Greentown adjusting hours.. make sure to check in before just showing up.

First time in long time .. amazing the difference from a smoking casino to non-smoking.. GL

FINALLY got back to Detroit poker .. two sessions at MGM, one shorty at Greektown.

1) I think MGM Floors deserve every day off they get! Lots of personalities in that room .. but that goes for any poker room too. They strive to answer every phone call and bluntly/honestly snap off answers to every Player that tries to grab their attention. And I'm not sure the Players really know how well they have it compared to other large rooms.

2A) MGM 2/5 NL is about as Nitty as it gets .. 3 tables basically all the same. Saw one Player who I'd give props to.
2B) MGM 3/3 PLO was about the same .. maybe a little tight on Friday night, but Saturday was a good game to sit at.

2C) MGM 'super' PLO ran Friday night with a couple of big 'stars' .. doubt it went all night but looked like a good game until about 240am when a couple busts and 2-3 Players running off to a meal slowed the table down. (Most 'good' food ends at 3am)
2D) MGM 5/10 PLO ran Sat evening and seem very 'pro' heavy .. very quiet

3A) MGM Dealers seem better than last visit, but they still POOL THE TIPS .. sad face
3B) MGM was short a Dealer or two Sat afternoon, especially with HH going. Dealers did call in absent and other Dealers were there on OT .. and some Dealers did show up after being called in early or on day off. So basically the same as any other room, but perhaps some 'team' effort being put in by the staff.

4) There are very obvious REASONS why Greektown struggles .. and I was only there for 90 minutes. I could rant, but it's really not worth getting into .. today. GL

I play at MGM D on the reg. Hard agree with your take on 2/5 NL being a nit fest. There’s also more regs/solid players than you think. I will only play 2/5 NL on the weekends and between the hours of 7PM - 12AM.

And yeah, it’s really unfortunate they still pool tips. Most the dealers are slow and don’t control the games, but I don’t blame them 😀

Having played a lot of live around the country, I do find the MGM player pool to be on the toxic side, even for poker players.

Really surprising you guys think 2/5 at mgm is nitty. Do you guys have any kind of sample size there? I have played in many rooms including Vegas LA Maryland and Detroits 2/5 scene is honestly by far the softest out of all those places…I have over 500+ hours of each place at 2/5 and Detroit is my highest hourly by a pretty significant margin…

TBH I'm a PLO Player and only play NL when I'm waiting, so my sample size is extremely small in poker terms. My reference is just that I played at 3 tables (time of day different too) and all three were exactly the same dynamic. I try to separate my evaluations from my stack result and there's no chance that I would want to spend 'hours' at any of these tables. Def a Reg filled room and I'm not doubting that quite a few are just fine playing the way they do .. it's just not my cup of tea dynamic (and certainly my PLO preference influences that). I'm also influenced by the Players in my Pool that play there more often and come back with the same details.

Have you been to FKeepers? While that game can be a bit sticky at times as well there's usually 2-3 Players at the table that are willing to mix it up and chips get pushed around quite a bit.

TBH (again) there can be way better games at 1/2-1/3 on the west side of the state because the Players who would/could play 2/5 (if running) are sitting at those tables willing to move chips.

I don't like putting it this way .. But I'd rather win $150 five-six times an hour than win 480 once.

I'm glad that you've had success .. keep it up. GL

I've only dumped a few hundred hours into 2/5 at MGM. Most my volume is at 1/2 (now 1/3). Outside of peak weekend hours, it's the same cast of 4-6 solid regs spread across 2-3 tables. Like Answer stated, you're probably just an absolute crusher 😃

Don't forget your favorite Tournament spot to the west .. Firekeepers is loaded up as always.

1) This Saturday .. $450 Black Chip Bounty . Noon . 30k chips . 30 min levels. If/when you bust you can enter the Pineapple Tournament at 2pm

2) March 31st is a 5th Sunday .. $500 tournament as usual

3) MSPT May event is really not too far off .. Satty information should be released soon ..

Check Bravo for more scoop, including a new $200 'early bird' Hot Seat Promo Fri, Sat and Sun 930-1130 GL

Greektown will always Greektown. I can't remember what day it was but I was shocked to see Greektown had a 2-5 game going and Motor City had none. Greektown is a strong cockroach and I believe it will outlast Motor City.

Anybody see the fist fight at mgm around 3 this morning? Was a proper fight.

Looks like Soaring Eagle is getting back into tournament poker again.

Hey all:

I was at Motorcity the other night.

The "smoking lounge" is now open in the old poker room space. There are indeed slot machines in there, but not nearly as many as they could fit in if they really wanted to. Kind of odd. If they want slot machines, they should pack them in!

In all my years of playing poker, a first happened! A drunk woman was hurling expletives and obscenities at my table was ejected. Security was actually called in. I was kind of upset with the floor, as they should have ejected her AFTER she loses her chips. Her personality was even worse than her exterior appearance! A truly miserable person.

Food, to a degree, is back in the room. There are frequently Better Made chips put out. Sometimes there are even "sandwiches" put out...but they are 2" in length, MUCH smaller & not as high quality as what used to be put out. Strangely, cans of soda & bottles of water are also available for players.

Perhaps worst of all, the number of players has gone down. Those that are there are usually regulars and nits. The few fresh faces that come in are severely short stacked more often than not. 6-7 new players came to my table through the night, and they each had well less than $100 bankrolls.

I was there on a SAT. night, which I would presume is frequently the busiest of the week.

The rake is $6+2, which is simply brutal at short stacked 1-2 games.

It appears that the vast majority of the players have now migrated over to MGM.