Detroit

Based on the game setup, and simple fact that its PLO, yes there is of course plenty of variance involved. With the right people involved, very big pots and stacks will develop. This is not uncommon. You will find actual good players, and number of which are pros. There are also plenty of whales and fish. I will say though, that IMHO, the game is gotten tougher over the past year or so. Two factors I can point to account for this: Pros from all over the region have descended on the MGM game, as presumably other nearby PLO scenes have dried up some. The other factor is that known pros who have historically played bigger games (including 5/10, which now runs much less frequently), have been forced seemingly to play this $1/3 game. All this being said, of course if you are properly skilled/rolled, there is $$ to be made in this game.

D Prime Steakhouse @ MGM. Can anyone recommend? The reviews online are all over the place.

The year has to be around 2011 maybe 2010. In a cash game but at the empty table next to it are 4-5 Chaldean kids sitting around just riding high. One of them had just won and another FT a tourney. They were mapping out as a crew how they could beat MI charities 15-20 min blind and 20-25% rake tournaments. Every so often I think back and wonder how long that lasted. Also what a fun ride albeit a short one I bet, riding high on the end of the poker boom. I don't think I've been in a charity room since 2016 but I have to imagine there isnt many 18-20 somethings sitting around plotting how they're going to take over the poker world.

I miss the menagerie of circus geeks that populated the room.

Hey all:

The other day I went to MGM, and they were scanning EVERBODY'S ID. It did not matter if you were 17 or 71, everybody got scanned.

When did this start? Are all casinos in MI doing this now?

Nobody seemed to know anything about anything when I was asking.

New thing? I remember when Motorcity and Greektown used to do this on busy weekends or just whenever they felt like it.

Any 2/5 regs in here? Wondering how the games have been lately had to take some time off for personal reasons but saw that 2/5 took off the btn straddle and 1/3 has a $100min-$500max now? Is that hurting the 2/5 at all?

1/3 is actually $100-$300, and no it’s not negatively affecting 2/5. 2/5 has been very reg heavy, even on weekends. I think this is because the room is having trouble keeping up with the increased foot traffic and also the decision to implement bomb pots. Weaker players are busting much faster now that $200 bomb pots are being played every 30 minutes. This, combined with the lack of space to compensate for the increased demand from the closure of the other rooms, has resulted in a steady setup of 2-3 tables with high reg:fish ratios.

The bomb pots also take a while, like 5-7 minutes, and the majority of them are chopped. I really wish they’d get rid of them, but I don’t see that happening cause of the double rake. Often times a reg will stack a few weaker players and leave the table, or 2-3 fish get stacked and leave. Each table slowly fills up with stronger players as the weaker ones get squeezed out pretty fast.

I do think removing the button straddle has been a net positive on the game. The games play more passive as a result. Weaker players are happier cause they get to see more flops, and they also don’t feel like they’re playing a 5/10 game.

Oh, you can also run it twice now, but it’s double raked.

The best time to play is Fridays and Saturdays starting at 6PM. This is because, by this time, the top regs have understandably moved to the 5/10 table and are getting into leveling wars with one another.

That’s sad to see 2/5 is so reggy. I’ve said this before but I really wish they would go Texas style with their limits and just make 1/3 $100 min and match the stack. That way the regs would be more spread out and 1/3 would get deep and playable.

I think this system would actually be better for a lot of the smaller casinos in the world. It mixes the player pools and if they want they can still have 2/5 by request.

May 12th to be exact. Stats show making everyone show ID" helps to improve the gaming experience for everyone."

Hey all:

I was in MGM the other night.

The room was surprisingly busy.

Unfortunately, there was no air conditioning. Management has a portable AC at the desk, and some powerful air blowers that bring a little bit of circulation. This helps a little bit, especially if you are in the right spot. HOWEVER, a lot of people are NOT in the right spot.

lots of people & dealers were complaining about the heat & humidity. If I weren't winning & at a juicy table, I would have left.

This is certainly not helping MGM's image. One of the guys playing next to me worked at a casino outside of America. He was simply SHOCKED at how poorly MGM Detroit was being run. He was also shocked at how poor/expensive the drink service was. MGM is leaving a lot of money on the table with this.

It kind of makes me think that management WON'T fix anything (or will take their time), as they don't even want poker in the 1st place.

The definitely have no incentive to car now that Greektown and Motor City have no rooms and Caesars Windsor can barely be considered competition.

As someone who has logged many hours of cash games at 2/5 levels at both MCC (pre covid) and MGM (post covid), I can honestly say that this is the worst that I have ever seen the 2/5 games. They are all packed with nut peddling regs trying to hit high hands. They are basically unplayable in my opinion, unless maybe you want to go after 7pm on a Friday - Saturday and stay until 2am.

I agree that the bomb pots have made the games way worse. Everyone plays tight af and then just looks to get it all in on the double board plo bomb pots. It significantly reduces a strong players edge because all the chips are going in on these hands, and the bad players are going broke much quicker, as others have eluded to. Also, it takes forever for these hands to play out as most of the dealers are awful. So your choices are basically to sit out for 10-12 minutes every hour, or pile it in and hope you get lucky. It’s just really dumb in my opinion.

Hey gang, just curious....

Any locals (or at least Michiganders) still running in the Main Event? How did our locals do?

The thing is the pool is not filled with many if any elite pros like other regions. I can’t see a true crusher staying around this area instead of moving somewhere with bigger games and potential to make more money. The pool of regs are largely break even small winners imo even if they try to act otherwise.

Your’re not wrong here. They are mostly break even, or slight losers. But, it still doesn’t make for a very good game to go there and sit with a bunch of break even nits. Your hourly is not worth it.

Only one 2/5 reg I think is a true crusher is Josh from Toledo proven winner year after year and plays a lot of volume. The rest of the regs are just turnstiles of breakeven players that change year over year.

A lot of them aren’t nits tho you see a lot more nits in online games than mgm 2/5. A lot of them actually give more action than is profitable because their fragile egos can’t stand being called tight. It’s a big reason a lot of them can’t make it as a pro long term.

Happen to be next to MCC, haven't been inside since before COVID. The poker room is now smokers slot room.

RIP

will be in detroit for a couple day soon, staying downtown, no car, sounds like MGM is pretty much the only game in town? prefer to play PLO if possible.

Yep, only poker room downtown anymore. PLO games run pretty regularly last I checked. GLGL and enjoy Detroit!

Sounds about right. There’s still a ton of EV to gain from exploiting the nitty regs that largely make up the 2/5 pool, which keeps the game exciting for me. The 5/10 doesn’t run as often, but it’s a really great game assuming you can navigate around the top regs.

2/5 is at its peak during the weekends and also during the best high hand promos, but you gotta get there early and you gotta stay sharp with game selection.

While the bomb pots have personally been great for my winrate, I do largely blame them for the dwindling 2/5 pool.

I’ve said it before but this room could really use the Texas model for cash games. Make everything 1/3 match the stack with a $100 minimum buy in, games would get deeper and regs wouldn’t be consolidated to only playing 2/5nl. It would be a great move for the ecosystem.