Blue Water Classic XVi - October 23-26, 2013

BlondeFish

The sixteenth running of the Blue Water Classic at Casino Point Edward will be from October 23-26, 2013. The buy-ins are $600+$60, prize pool up to $108,000, and the rake is only 9%.

There are four remaining satellites. A friend and I are thinking of carpooling to the Tuesday 6 PM rebuy satellite on October 8.

The initial buy-in for the 2,000 chip satellite is $60 + $15 fee. Strangely, the add-on is only 2,000 chips for another $60. Nevertheless, the rebuy format is much better since the rebuys and add-ons all go to the players' prize pool and makes the effective rake much lower and easier to beat, compared to the re-entry format of high-rake tournaments where you have to pay the full rake of >= 12% to the poker room's profits for every re-entry.

Anybody else playing in the $660, or interested in a rake-free satellite?

Card Dead

I was thinking about it if I can get the time off work. Not a big fan of the 10k starting stack though.

Definitely interested in a RFS. On Saturday, Irunit4times and I started a conversation about doing a regular satty sched to a variety of events.

All input welcomed.

Stay tuned for updates.

BlondeFish

Note that Friday, October 25 is only four entries short of a sell-out! :o If you don't want to risk not being able to play on that particular day, you may want to buy your entry today as it may sell out after tomorrow's satellite.

I'm guessing that with the rebuy satellites having been running since June and the weird structure such as UNLIMITED rebuys for only 2000 chips costing $60 each or 1/11 of the $660 satellite coins, I estimate that the locals have won 100 or more coins and that I could be one of the few players who will end up buying in directly. The local regs have probably spent a LOT of money to win one or more coins for each of the three days, with the mistaken belief that they can scalp their coins to out-of-towners who drop in on Friday.

Card Dead

Thanks for the tip.

It was going to be a stretch for me anyways - no way I could buy in this far in advance unless I won a satty.

I'll probably set my sights on the $550 at Brantford and MAYBE the WSOP in Ottawa.

Wetts1012

Is anyone interested in playing day 1?

Also, thoughts on (assuming 60 players a day), how long to play down to 8 (or fewer)?

Card Dead

You gotta figure 8-10 hrs for sure.

6pm on a weekday really sucks for me.

Anybody know what time they start on Saturday?

BlondeFish

The finals on Saturday starts earlier at 2 PM. This means that Friday will be the worst night of the three qualifiers to play in as you would not get enough sleep when it matters most in-the-money. I plan to play on Thursday.

I remember in one BWC when my friend and I checked out of our hotel as we headed for the last qualifying night. I ended up qualifying after midnight, but when I drove back to the hotel to get a room, it was all booked up. I only got a few hours sleep before having to force myself to get up and play the finals.

Card Dead;360900 wroteYou gotta figure 8-10 hrs for sure.
6pm on a weekday really sucks for me.
Anybody know what time they start on Saturday?

BlondeFish

My friend bought one of the last Friday seats, and there have been no more Friday satellite coins. The local satellite grinders who have multiple Friday coins already have had to choose the Wednesday and Thursday coins when they may not even want to risk more than one $660 shot.

Popkorn

Is the $600 tournament the only tournament running? I can't see how it would be worth it to drive 3 hours, stay 2 nights for just 1 tournament? Wouldn't that be effectively paying higher rake?

BlondeFish

Popkorn;361321 wroteIs the $600 tournament the only tournament running?

Coles Notes: Yes, not as good as previous BWC, but the single event with rake < 10% is still much better compared to travelling to Seneca/Vegas.

BWC always had strange structures and it got stranger this XVI edition. It used to have smaller $150 and $300 preliminary events along with a Points Prize Pool so a few forumers like me would stay for the week. It was much more +EV compared to flying to the US, especially since I would usually cash.

This year, instead of having three events, Point Edward got rid of the two preliminary events, added a Day 1C for only one event and got rid of the Point Prize Pool. :'( This is bad for the casino locals as most of them love playing the lower buy-in events instead of now having to risk at least $660-$1,980 to play.

The prize structure continues to be way too steep, unlike PS, FTP, Playground, etc. If you play more than one day, even if you make it to the grand finals, it is likely that you will still lose money! :bs: Very few players committed to playing more than one $660 event as they first wanted to play the preliminary events.

The XVI changes are bad for non-locals like you and me as it's not worth it to stay in a hotel for the week anymore unless you are sure you want to repay the full rake three times for a total of almost $2,000. In my case, I would just try to carpool for one day (Thursday) and if I make the finals, try to carpool again. There are cash games for those in the carpool who have to wait.

To anybody else playing, please fill out a feedback form like I will so that future BWC will improve. Possible improvements include: flatter prize structure, Points Prize Pool, and possibly bring back lower buy-in preliminaries. If there will be only one event, they should be scheduled as much as possible on the weekend (instead of Wednesday start and no game on Sunday ???) so that more out-of-towners and working locals can play; I wouldn't mind bringing my family on a Friday then spending the Sunday in the finals or sightseeing.

Card Dead

Very well put BF.

All considered, I believe there's more value in the Brantford Deepstack series and the WSOP circuit.

hiphopopotamus

Card Dead;361326 wroteVery well put BF.

All considered, I believe there's more value in the Brantford Deepstack series and the WSOP circuit.

What is this Brantford Deepstack series you speak of? Is it a tournament series or are you talking about just the regular bigger buy-in events they hold at the end of each month?

Card Dead

They have several Deepstack tournaments a month - most Thursdays and the last Sunday of the month. Buy-ins range from $80 - $1090, with the big events being on the Sundays. Some months they have 2 on Sundays - one medium buy-in, one big one. They also have a $130 satellite to the big tournament every month.

They aren't connected in any way, other than by location and structure, but it's kinda like a series.

HugeFish

Wouldn't it be best to play in the Wednesday tournament?

Also the satellite buy in is not $50+15 it's $60+$15 + rebuys $60 + addon $60. I know this because I registered for the one tonight and paid $75. Also it's on the website.

BlondeFish

HugeFish;361359 wroteWouldn't it be best to play in the Wednesday tournament?

Friday is the worst because of the earlier start time the next day, but why do you think Wednesday is better than Thursday?

Also the satellite buy in is not $50+15 it's $60+$15 + rebuys $60 + addon $60. I know this because I registered for the one tonight and paid $75. Also it's on the website.

You are correct, & I updated OP. The risk/reward ratio is bad for the $75 initial buy-in plus unlimited rebuys; many of the satellite winners have spent more than $660 for each coin won.

HugeFish

Yeah I think Wednesday just because anyone from out of town will be most likely playing Friday or Thursday, the regulars around here aren't that good from what I've seen I just moved back here though.

Yeah I never played in a live tournament before just thought I'd take a shot since I am up a decent amount on cash games.

How does the prize pool work? That's what I initially came to this forum to ask.

BlondeFish

HugeFish;361362 wroteI am up a decent amount on cash games.

Is it still "No Limit with a $100 Limit" at Point Edward, i.e., 1/2, 10% rake up to $5 with $100 max. bets? Did the $60+$15 satellite sell out last night?

How does the prize pool work? That's what I initially came to this forum to ask.

With 24 players cashing, a whopping 43% of the prize pool goes to only two players, which is way too much and even the 10th place finisher in the final table gets less than 2%. ??? Just like those who make the mistake of travelling to Seneca/Vegas to buy into a tournament, if you don't cash high enough, you may still lose money after hotel and other expenses.

HugeFish

BlondeFish;361412 wroteIs it still "No Limit with a $100 Limit" at Point Edward, i.e., 1/2, 10% rake up to $5 with $100 max. bets? Did the $60+$15 satellite sell out last night?

Yeah it's $100 max raise. It's easy enough to get everything in unless it's big stack vs big stack.

Sold out I think it was 13 seats and 14th was $180 after rebuys & add-ons.

Got knocked mid way never did a rebuy or the add-on though so not really a big deal. Ran into pocket aces when I shoved with my short stack.

BlondeFish

Note that Friday is now sold out!

HugeFish;361414 wroteSold out I think it was 13 seats and 14th was $180 after rebuys & add-ons.

Got knocked mid way never did a rebuy or the add-on though so not really a big deal. Ran into pocket aces when I shoved with my short stack.

Wow, over 20% of players are getting seats so they must be doing a LOT of rebuys. As you can tell from this forum, there are very few out-of-towners that are interested in buying into BWC so these local satellite players could become stuck playing their 3+ coins even though they don't want to risk anywhere that much.

HugeFish

BlondeFish;361419 wroteNote that Friday is now sold out! Wow, over 20% of players are getting seats so they must be doing a LOT of rebuys. As you can tell from this forum, there are very few out-of-towners that are interested in buying for BWC so these local satellite players could become stuck playing their 3+ coins even though they don't want to risk anywhere that much.

Yeah there were around 9 rebuys just at my table and 6 add-ons multiply that by 6 tables.