Decent tournaments in January
Since there is not a single Skill Level 6 tournament in sight in any Ontario casino in 2008, 
I plan to play at Seneca Niagara Casino's Winter Challenge in January.
Wednesday, January 9, 7 PM: U$100+20, 3500 chips, 20-minute blinds; rake 17%.
Thursday, January 10
10 AM & 1 PM: $100+20 Shoot-out, 2500 chips, 20-minute blinds; rake 17%. Top 3 from each table advance to the 4 PM finals.
2-9:30 PM: Hot seat drawings every half hour for Seneca apparel & prizes. Seneca & Turning Stone knows how to treat poker players.
4 PM: Shoot-out finals, 5000 chips, 20-minute blinds.
6 PM: free dinner in the poker room.
Friday, January 11, noon: $300+30, 5000 chips, 30-minute blinds; 9% rake.
Saturday, January 12
11 AM: $1000+70 Winter Challenge, 10,000 chips, 60-minute rounds over two days; 6.5% rake. I think this will be the best tournament structure in the area in 2008 :cool: (except of course for the next $10K WPT NAPC).
6 PM: free dinner.
Sunday, January 13
10 AM: $200+25, 4000 chips, 30-minute blinds; 11% rake.
6 PM: free dinner.
Is anybody interested in hosting a home game satellite for the $1070 or $330 event?
Anybody interested in joining a car pool or possibly sharing a hotel room?
I plan to play at Seneca Niagara Casino's Winter Challenge in January.Wednesday, January 9, 7 PM: U$100+20, 3500 chips, 20-minute blinds; rake 17%.
Thursday, January 10
10 AM & 1 PM: $100+20 Shoot-out, 2500 chips, 20-minute blinds; rake 17%. Top 3 from each table advance to the 4 PM finals.
2-9:30 PM: Hot seat drawings every half hour for Seneca apparel & prizes. Seneca & Turning Stone knows how to treat poker players.
4 PM: Shoot-out finals, 5000 chips, 20-minute blinds.
6 PM: free dinner in the poker room.
Friday, January 11, noon: $300+30, 5000 chips, 30-minute blinds; 9% rake.
Saturday, January 12
11 AM: $1000+70 Winter Challenge, 10,000 chips, 60-minute rounds over two days; 6.5% rake. I think this will be the best tournament structure in the area in 2008 :cool: (except of course for the next $10K WPT NAPC).
6 PM: free dinner.
Sunday, January 13
10 AM: $200+25, 4000 chips, 30-minute blinds; 11% rake.
6 PM: free dinner.
Is anybody interested in hosting a home game satellite for the $1070 or $330 event?
Anybody interested in joining a car pool or possibly sharing a hotel room?
Comments
Sloth - Guess you will have to plan a "business trip" down there to finalize the deal. P.S. I'll split the gas from KW with you!
I'm thinking about playing Wed. night, staying over in Niagara, play the next day till Thur. evening and head back home. So perhaps we can car pool or split a room BlondeFish.
While the only question many tournament players bother to ask is how much the first prize is, below are the more important factors in deciding if any of the tournaments are worth playing for you.
1) January 9 & 10, $120: Skill Level is only 2, Patience Factor = 4.0. With 4% of your prize pool withheld for tournament staff, the total rake is 20% (24/120).
2) January 13, $225: SL=5, PF=7.8, rake=14.7%.
3) January 11, $330: SL=5, PF=9.4, rake=12.7%.
4) January 12, $1,070: SL=6, PF=33! Rake=10.3%. This is like playing in a WPT or WSOP event, but for much less than $10K.
To compare, Seneca had four great value $120 tournaments earlier this month, which had a Skill Level of 4 and a Patience Factor almost as high as next month's $225 tournament. IMHO, the January 9 is not worth playing in and I would much rather use the $120 to play in higher Skill Level tournaments in the GTA or play in a cash game.
The poker room rate is $100 on January 11 or 12, and $50 on January 13 if you show a tournament receipt upon check-in. If the January 13 tournament is the only one I end up playing in, I might get a room to stay overnight.
That's funny because I called the hotel this morning and they were not aware of any player rates for the tournaments. They even put me through to someone in the pokerroom and they stated that there were no special rates for the upcoming tournaments. Can you forward me the email with these details.
For the Jan. 10 tournament, does your rating take into account that it is a shoot out and you only need to finish in the top three? then you get $5k in chips and 20 minute blinds and start all over again.
In your rake calculations, you forgot to mention the 30% witholding tax the bastards take, which means I won't ever be playing in any tournaments there (which is too bad, as I would have probably played the $1K buyin tourney with that structure)
Ryan
http://www.senecapokerrooms.com/tournaments/winter_challenge.php
So they take 30% of all winnings, no matter what?
Blondefish, so you would only recommend playing the friday / saturday / or sunday tournies... as theres too much rake and not enuff EV for the other tournies... doesnt more donks make it easier to win... or i guess easier to lose too...
About how long did it take to drive? Did you park and walk over to the US or park there? Any more info about the cards? Any trouble registering?
Thanks
Seneca is at the border so it is about a five minute drive across from the Niagara casinos. Depending on what time you cross, walking might be quicker. I think the problem is really coming back into Canada so if you come late in the evening, there should be no waiting time. Except maybe for the Sunday night with all the weekend shoppers. I'm pretty sure the parking would be free at the casino if you are playing poker (probably need a players card). They have a huge room for the tournaments and usually there is no problem getting a spot. I was told they never sell out but you can only register at the casino and not over the phone. As mentioned, there are some player room rates but the local hotels are still cheaper. All are within walking distance and most have a free shuttle service to the casino.
I will be playing a couple of the events. If you want a lift, I will be driving down.
I'll talk to you about it tonight.
Thanks for the offer but it is not needed.
A few of us from Ching Hill are thinking about going down, that is why I am asking.
we should all talk tonight on the hill about the trip
There is usually very little waiting time at Customs on both sides. A Canadian passport may be required to cross the border by the end of this month. I have been able to cross with just a driver's license, but I was asked for a Canadian citizenship card or birth certificate.
I always drive across and self-park for free at Seneca. There is a *&^%$#@! $3.25 toll to drive back to Canada.
When you find the separate poker room, check in at the desk. Apply for a player's card and they will ask for ID. Hand in your card to be swiped when you check in and remember to swipe out after you are done playing, and you will be comped at 60¢/hour. The poker room staff understand the importance of great customer service, so don't be afraid to ask about the rake, bad beat jackpot or anything else you don't understand.
I don't understand this question. BigChrisEl, feel free to phone me if you want to talk more about Seneca.
BlondeFish
Formerly a Seneca virgin & now a Seneca whore!
Ive never played in the states before... so can someone help me out.... what happens when you ca$h there..... do they give you chq or cash.. and then how do they take 30% off.... right there at the casino they take it off? or how does it work....
thanks for your help... as that may decide weither I go or not....
Also wondering if anyone knows the payout structure or approximate payout?
thanx
http://www.ustaxback.com/
They take 30% off and give you cash. Tilter posted his experience on getting part of his 30% back in this thread:
http://www.pokerforum.ca//showthread.php?t=13152
I don't think many players here have cashed in the States as he/she's the only person I've seen posting his experience getting part of the tax back. Or maybe no one else bothers to post.
just recently saw a tv commercial about a business that allegedly helps you get back some (or all) of your 30%. haven't used or read about them, but here's the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.refundmanagement.com/
When I paid for my satellite buy-in 15 minutes before the start, I asked how many players were registered and I was told that I was the first one! Only 4 other players signed up so the MTT super satellite did not even have enough for a single table.
They started a 2/5 table. I bought in for $250 and said to myself, "That's just great. Instead of having a chance to win the satellite, I have to more than quintiple my buy-in in the cash game to pay for the $1,070 seat." In the very first hand, I had JJ and doubled up when a Seneca :fish: called my all-in on the turn with probably just a draw. A few hands later, I busted the same player again with AA. I had almost $1K after only 1/2 hour! The same :fish: later got bluffed by me on a $232 pot, then by another player who only had 3-2! The poor player kept busting out & may have been stuck $2K by the time I left.
After reaching a high of over $1,700, I lost a $838 pot with my top 2 pair against a set (AK vs. TT). After most of the conditions that I have set for leaving a cash game occurred, I decided to call it quits much earlier than I ever dreamed. I cashed out over U$1200,
If I can find somebody to carpool with, I want to go to Seneca on Wednesday afternoon, when the :fish: tank will probably be full because of the prize drawings. The prizes & 3 free dinners this week do not come from the casino's generosity but by taking a whopping 10% out of what is supposed to be the players' "Bad Beat Progressive Jackpot" (I just call it "rake" for short
If I manage to sleep-fold & survive to Day 2 of the main event, then I'll stay overnight in a hotel. The nearby Days Inn has a room rate of U$59.95 for Friday or Saturday night.
That said, I do have to be back in Mississauga by 9pm-10pm, so a double session is not possible if you need a lift back.
PM me if youre interested.
So how do you know about the 14% rakes wed/thur and 9% fri? this isnt posted anywhere... so ur saying in a 10000 pot.. they take 14% for the casino? or something? and then 4% as well for the dealers?? please explain how they're taking out 18% from my earnings???
PLEASE help as this will help decide which ones i play...... we'll b @ the daysinn (canada - niagara falls)