blonde poker forum

Its a good club and I play there a lot but it could be so much better.

I am increasingly frustrated by the managements lack of vision.
For instance

1--Have they shown any interest in the Nottingham Team beating Blackpool Heads Up?
No- And they have been reluctant to put up a photo of the winning team that I supplied.

2---Have they made any progress in recruiting more dealers-
None I have seen

3---Is the organisation any better- ie start times, registration.?
Yes a little-- but only because some of the personal efforts of some of the card room staff..

4---Did they embrace the opportunity to have 425 cover the 250 next week?.
No


I know several of the management team read posts here on blonde and I hope they take heed and shape up before we all start giving them a miss and head for Walsall or even Leicester.

Maybe some of the managers would prefer we did leave then they could install even more of those high tech slots which are perhaps less hassle and more profitable than catering for the poker players.

Malc-M

Sorry I can't work the quote thingy, but you are right.

P.S. Don't expect anyone else to respond to anything even minutely controversial.

you think i would duck an issue?

all i can say is that casinos would prefer to have all the poker players playing different games where they can make money
so in their ideal world we would all turn up for the weekly games but instead of playing poker play the slots or the roulette

basically they dont care about poker or poker players poker is just a way to get people thru the door

Was not referring to you Ironside, I know that you are not afraid to speak your mind.

But apart from you most of the regular posters on here are reluctant to comment on controversial issues.

Nothing too controversial really, we all know that casinos see poker as a way to draw in punters and too be fair to them it really is a good way of doing that.
The problem is that once they draw a decent crowd they don't seem to be too interested in keeping them happy on the poker side of things.
Proactive is not really a word they recognise, attendances increase weekly because of the growing attraction to the game not because of their efforts but they seem to think that they are doing it.
Take a cardroom out of somewhere like walsall and it would be empty simple as that.
The newer cardrooms are making an effort now and drawing the punters away, but is will it last?
No, as soon as they pick up a decent crowd they'll sit back and watch and not continue to improve things.
The only way to go IMHO is to do the dedicated cardroom like the gutshot, you know the business your in and you HAVE to keep them happy.
If anyone wants to start up a consortium for a business venture this way count me in.
Ian

The Gala doesn't really care about any the aforementioned points as long as they get people in the casino. And from what i hear, they seem to be filling the cardroom pretty frequently.

As far as heading off to Walsall or Luton, you'll probably head back to Notts. Gala has the best atmosphere around.

It is unfortunate that the poker playing people. IE: You lot.

Continue to put up with the absolute farcical conditions that some casinos give you.

Lack of dealers. An absolute disgrace, wether you pay fees or not.

You are right they just want people through the door. Stanley's are re-opening several card rooms, but want you out of there by 1.30 to play the house games, so they increase antes steeply at the business end of the competition. Salford Grosvenor don't staff their card room, and still get full houses every Sunday night. Why don't you all as players refuse to play where conditions are so pitiful. There are plenty of opportunities to play every night of the week online and offline. I hear of people saying let's boycott certain casinos, but they continually go to them week after week. You have made a rod for your own backs, by your continual support of card rooms that don't make an effort. That refuse to listen to your ideas, advice etc.

I know how the card room staff feel at Gala. You want the best for the club you are working in, but most casino managers still live in the dark ages. They want a figure for how much a poker player brings in. THey want to justify staffing the areas.

Card room staff have to please 2 sets of people. Their players, and their managers. It's a very fine line to walk.

Anyway enough of my ranting.

Wish you all the best in Notts, hope it all turns out ok for you all.

Blackpool boys were gonna come, but I think they all lost their way.

Yogi

Yogi, you are the voice of reason.

I could not agree with you more, which is why I have only played in Nottingham Gala twice in 6 months.

I prefer to play online than in a cardroom that does not provide dealers for your protection.

My own feeling is that most of the players who fill the cardroom at Notts. are in denial, thinking that it's all fine.

I'm all for the boycott !

There's no substitute for the Gala bantar though.

Good post malcom, agree with everything you said.

Rob is doing a good job, has got respect and some authority, which is what you need in the card room.
Think his hands are tied in as far as moving Gala into the real poker world, management probably still see it as a necessary evil.
If the notts lads voted for a group of 4 or 5 people to represent players views and ideas, which can be put to management in a more formal way.
Collectively we can change it at notts, but as individuals we have no powers of persuasion.
Ideas to ponder:
Change prize structure. As Tony has already said, its our money, we should decide how its paid out. To many tournies ending in deals because of the top heavy format.
A festival...notts ideally placed for a week long festival, either management cannot be arsed to sort it or very short sighted in the opportunities it creates for the casino, in both publicity and revenue.
Starting times. Sunday especially would benefit from a 7 or 8pm start. Understand staff issues but the problem has to be addressed.
Gala should consider sponsering the notts. heads up team...they do a good job representing notts and everyone knows their unbeatable  :)
For the higher echilons of management at notts all I can do is repeat Delia's word's of encouragement... " WHERE ARE YOU !!!!! "

salford grov dont get a full house every sunday anymore still gets a hefty number but i think 1 sellout in 5 months or simlar

and monday comps only get 50 runners
wendesdays which used to sell out every week now only get 50-60 runners

i have spoke to the manager there alot of times about dealers but as he says we are lucky to still have the card room local he mentioned he might try to do a festivle god help him in that !,

soon pepole will stop going as there is a new club in town with dealers and a buffey, they know how to treat the players the way to go they only been going 3 months and sell out every comp with exellent value from what i have heard

even though of all the card rooms i have been in pairis/amsterdam/gutshot/vic/walsall/salford/blackpool/newcastle


blackpool out ranks the lot by a long way mainly threw organization and waiters and a manager who really know what he is doing and cares about what he is doing

I don't go regularly, but I'd like to see the Gala do well. Would a survey/questionnaire on prize structure, starting times, etc, be a good starting point Jim? If only to see what people's views are.

I think the lack of a questionaire/survey being initiated by the Gala Manangement speaks volumes.
 As I said at the begining of this thread I know some of them read this and hopefully take on board the points made.
Malc-M

i am all for a boycott of notts gala untill they get a questionaire out

infact i promise i wont be there untill they sort out a festival

Would we notice the difference Ralph?  ;D

Seriously though wouldn't a boycott play into the hands of the "put slots in" crew? No poker players and they can say the poker booms over and get on with putting electronic roulette in?

Boycott??
Hard to organise. What about you all go in one night, But don't play. No-one. Don't go to the bar. Don't touch house games.

i think I'm just a rabble rouser. Let's be honest tho. If they cared then they would have done something. A petition wouldn't help. Perhaps stronger action is what is needed. Not that I would advocate it. There has to be a way forward.

I gotta get a new name.

Yogi

i am going to stick to the boycott much cheaper

only 42 players for the 30 game last night - looks like your boycott is working. - Rob looked genuinely concerned!

On a positive note - the 'big blind to move' rule was trialed last night and it worked well - apart from the first couple of times when the person moving still went and sat behind the button and looked for the 'best seat'. - i was short stacked and got annoyed so obviously and very quickly pointed out the whole reason for the bb must move scnario is for fairness and that they must sit in the next available bb. - the adjustment was made and it was met with appreciation from all


WELL DONE GALA NOTTS and well done to ROB!!

Yup, I second that, well done Rob.

Julian & I were both due to come down last night, but something really heavy came up at the last minute, & it was not possible.

I am still trying to address Malc-M's "Lack of Vision" thread, give me time, got a lot on right now, but hope to do it today some time. There aint much wrong at Notts that a bit of fine tuning wont put right.

Well that's a big step in the right direction.

I can always remember being surprised by the blistering early pace that big Smithy could produce
when he had his eye on a favourable seat behind the button.

But that was mere slow-motion compared to when the free buffet used to arrive in the cardroom a few years back !

 ::)

I absolutely agree with you Tony.
There is not much wrong with Notts that some fine tuning would not sort out.
I am just keen that its as good as it can possibly be.

There is an excellent core of players and the standard is good.

I certainly am not in favour of any kind of boycott and will be at the 250 on Sunday.

Excellent news re the bb move. That's a big improvement.
Well done Rob.

Malc-M

Agree with every word Malc.

so when are these excellent players going to leave notts and play the rest of the uk and european events

as soon as I get the t-shirt company up and running and get a bankroll together. ;)

well while you are waiting for a miracle you need to sort out your pic

if you need a hand i can sort out a url for your pic while you wait for your band to sort out the website

When you say that "there ain't much wrong at Notts.", are you not overlooking the small discrepancy in the dealer department ?

You guys support the cardroom/bar/restaurant/tables etc. 4 times a week.
Anywhere from 60/120 customers each night not including friends and family.

The casino gives you dealers once a month !!

Don't you think you deserve to be treated better than that ?

Wake up guys !

Let's apply Sklansky's theory:

Sklansky says that you have played a hand perfectly, if you would have done the same if you could see your opponents cards.

So the perfect cardroom would be one where there was no expense spared.

Do you see anything different to the "no expense spared" cardroom in Nottm Gala?

I rest my case.

Lol

Sorry Ralph, but we aint ever going to agree on Notts. You are in the glass is half empty department, I am in the glass is half full department. You consistently knock Notts, I consistently sing their praises, & we are both entitled to hold our respective views.

But if we both step aside, they have improved atendances by about 200% in 18 months, & have sold every single seat on more occasions than not in 2005.

So, on average, 100 guys, 4 nights a week, don't seem to mind lack of "proper" dealers. Given which, in a commercial world, one can easily see why Gala dont see the need to provide House Dealers.

As to your hypothetical situation of a perfect cardroom being "a no expense spared Casino", such an animal does not, & never wll exist. There simply aint enough money in a regular cardroom to make it "perfect", & if we deemed it to be "perfect" the chances are the casinos will say "OK, please yourself, we will put slots in". Casinos do NOT make much money, if any, directly from running poker tourneys.

We need to recognize this.

I, and, on averge, 100+ players per night, 4 nights per week, happily accept Gala Notts "as is", so I dont see what the problem is. I do believe it could do with a bit of fine tuning, but so can Arsenal & Man Utd & Brentford, but they get full attendances, &, on the whole, everybody comes back each week. (Allow me a tad of artistic licence on Brentford, eh?).

From time to time I criticise them in a constructive manner, but that's a long way from saying they are not treating us OK.

They have a product which they ARE working hard to improve. I, & many others, thoroughly enjoy a night at Notts. Good company, a few laughs, chance of winning a few bob, plenty of characters. Poker Heaven for me, Poker Hell for you. You can please some of the people, some of the time, but you cant please all of the people all of the time.........

I am happy, on the whole, with the way they treat me. 100+ players, 4 times a week, ditto. You rest your case? Me too!

Next case!

There seems to be an undercurrent from Karabiner that the dealer situation in Notts taints the fairness of the games.

While I would prefer house dealers (which would surely mean a reg fee, currently not levied in the 20/30 comps) I think that the situation since January where there is independent cutting before the deal and a regular pool of local guys who deal for "a meal and 20 off the prize pool" is good enough for me (and many others).

I agree Simon - now the cut rule has been brought in - the integrity of the deal has vastly increased and has made for a better game.

Perhaps when you have been playing poker in casinos, clubs and spielers as long as I have Tikay,

you might agree with me.

There are many serious problems which arise from not having "proper dealers" which I have discussed with you privately.

Not the least of which is the lack of a proper shuffle and cut.

I have been a staunch supporter of Nottm. Gala (previously ladbrokes International and before that Stakis)
cardroom for about 15 years now, and hardly missed a poker night until they withdrew the dealers
and the cardroom evolved into a state of , I believe you used the word anarchy earlier, that does fit.

So to simply say that I view the glass as half empty seems flippant to me.

There is nothing I would like to see more than a cardroom in Nottinham like they have in Sheffield or Walsall,

Or used to have in Derby a few years ago.

I would give it my wholehearted support.

But I will continue to call a spade a spade, and refer to folk whom I consider to have scales over their eyes as "in denial"

Wow they brought in a rule where the cards have to be cut.

Now that is progress !!

20 of the prize pool per dealer is the same as the max 10% reg fee and i am with karabiner here i dotn think i would play in a self dealt game too much oppotunity for underhand goings on

so are you playing the 250 Ralph?

You have failed to read my post properly Ralph, but if you want to say I am in denial, fine.

What I said was you are entitled to your view, & I am entitled to mine. But if you & I step aside, 100+ guys 4 nights a week seem to think it's OK.

And I am being flippant? "Wow, they have bought in a rule where cards have to be cut - now that's progress" may seem a tad flippant, sarcastic or ironic to the wiser eyes amongst our readers.....They used to do it wrong, they do it right now. How long do we have to keep resurrecting history before you let it go?

You can moan & whine all day about Notts, so can I, & we can determine not to attend any more, as you have. But the 100 guys who attend 4 nights a week are having a ball. We wish you were amongst us, but you aint. Your choice. But lets not spoil it for the guys who enjoy Notts. And that includes me.

See you in Sheffield on Thursday, hopefully, Ralph.

Now, Ironside. "20 per dealer is the same as the max 10% reg fee". No it's not. Assume 10 dealers, that's 200, the prize pool for a 30 comp at Notts averages about 10,000, so thats 2%. The meals are provided by Gala.

by law the gala can only charge 10% of orginal buy in as a fee on a 20 thats 2 a head or 20 per table (assuming a sell out)
ok 10 free meals are given out which is a bonus to the dealers but no intrest to those paying in or getting 200 taken out the prize pool

And in case anyone should get the impression from Karabiner's post that I used the word "anarchy" in connection with Gala Notts, because that is the context he has placed it in, I did not.

I referred to "anarchy" on another subject altogether - the lack of a governing body for poker as a whole. A subject upon which, so far, & to a decent degree, Karabiner & I agree on, if not how to achieve it, certainly on the need for it. For now........

Tikay your statistics are becoming a joke:

Notts. has inreased by 200% in the last 2 years/ WSOP has increased by 1000%

The registration fee is 10% of the entry/ not 10% of the prize pool.

And I'm not saying that it's just you who is in denial,
it's all of the people who think iit's okay for the casino not to provide dealers

They don't even provide dealers for cash games.

I'm playing a qualifier for the WSOP on betfair Sunday.

10 seats guaranteed

Phew, I am taking a battering here, where's the rest of the Notts cavalry....!

Ironside, I think we may be at cross purposes on the registration fee at Notts. They do not charge any registration fee, except when House Dealers are provided.

But those who Final contribute to the 20 per dealer, by agreeing to take that amount, usually off the first & second prizes. In a 100 runner, 20 comp, the Max Reg would be 200. 10 dealers at 20 each would be 200.

Karabiner. You may consider my stats a joke, but I would prefer that we don't start slinging insults at each other, particularly as I consider you a pal. But that does not mean they are not accurate. What has a 1000% increase in numbers at the WSOP got to do with a 200% increase in numbers at Notts? Notts is at capacity, it cannot squeeze any more players in!

Registration fee is 10% of the entry, not 10% of the prize pool, I agree, & apologise for mixing the two up. But given they dont charge a regstration fee, remind me of it's relevance.......

They don't provide dealers for cash games? Oh yes they do. (I await "oh no they don't".....).

Come on lads, have a rest from throwing stones at Notts for a few minutes, & congratulate Simon Nowab on his superb performance in Barcelona.

charging 2 a head and suppling dealers would be better than giving 10 players (dealers) there money back

Agreed Ironside, but this is the whole point. Notts are NOT gonna provide House Dealers for 20 & 30 comps. They just aint! So we happily accept the next best thing.

You'd think Gala Notts were unique in this respect. I have attended entire Festivals in Brighton - Ranking Events, all of 'em - & all self-deal. Ditto Southampton. Ditto (though not in Festivals) in Luton. In Walsall. In Salford. In Teeside. In Stanleys Newcastle. In Derby. Dealer provided for the Final (thats Gaming Law) but not until the Final.

Of course we'd prefer dealers. But we'd prefer self-deal to no deal!

Given that so many Casinos still do self-deal, one has to wonder why Gala Notts is the subject, alone, of so much flak on the matter.

i said i would not play at ANY casino that where it was self dealt glad you told me southampton was self dealt as i was meant to be trying to get there to play as my brother lives down that way and was going to visit him at same time

now i know not to bother

Southampton WILL be House Dealers, for the 500 Main Event on Sunday (thats the first time I believe) but it will be self-deal for Monday's 100 comp.

That's what their flyer says.

cant make it this month all the airlines are on a low level schedule

I'm with Tikay on this one. Yes we would love to see dealers in lower buyin events BUT YOU AINT GOING TO GET THEM. It's just not cost effective. I have promoted a few tournys and I would love to provide dealers but who in a 100 runner event is going to pick up the 1k or so tab for dealers and floor staff?

My word there can be enough crying over 10% reg fees in 10 rebuy tournys.

THIS MONDAY THE P4C EVENT IS 100% DEALER DEALT!!!!!

sorry truth all the flights are either cancelled or expensive for the bank holiday

oh yeah there are some casinos that are supplying dealers for the weekly games they must have worked thru the cost effectiviness

Would love to bring the P4C roadshow to Inverness - give me a couple of weeks to look into it - although I have been informed the authorities frown on such events up there.

aberdeen cardroom likes to hire out there room

Go on Ironside, tell us all how you just exited the Stars Omaha comp in a huge pot. Double Suited Aces v Double Suited Aces. With decent back-up too? You just chose the wrong colour! Double suited Red Aces on an all black board v double suited Black aces is a BAD THING.....

nah i was double suited kings red he was double suited aces black, he was being bully raising every other hand in fact 2 times out of 3 i waited for hand to play back at him and he had a monster

Methinks you got a little excited (sic) there !

i was very exicted lost 60% of the players before the first break was only a few places off the money when i decided to play at the bullys

and with me holding one of his aces and he holding one of my kings i was looking for an all red board

I was just pointing out a collector's item.

A spelling mistake from Tikay  ;D

good news is i can tilt on the $1 stud that i just caught in time

LOL

just got called down by ace high when i was showing a pair of 8s lol my 2 pair was good lol

I deny any spelling mistake. I've exited it now, anyway.

Now, let get this straight Ironside. You were showing a pair of 8 & you got called by A high? Point us to this game!

the $1 stud on stars

i should  add  on another hand guy was showing QQ i had 2 pair and open ended straight draw i call another guy calls with a pair of ducks and hits 2nd pair on river beating my 2 pair (missed the draw) guy with queens wasnt impressed

here is hand history of the ace high call tell me if i missed something

PokerStars Game #1760127037: Tournament #8153022, 7 Card Stud Limit - Level I (15/30) - 2005/05/24 - 18:05:02 (ET)
Table '8153022 27'
Seat 1: idisc (1357 in chips)
Seat 2: Austin Rules (1307 in chips)
Seat 3: skitta (1758 in chips)
Seat 4: DrKneenie (1963 in chips)
Seat 5: pacejack (1187 in chips)
Seat 6: rackmstackm (1437 in chips)
Seat 7: Ironside (1491 in chips)
idisc: posts the ante 2
Austin Rules: posts the ante 2
skitta: posts the ante 2
DrKneenie: posts the ante 2
pacejack: posts the ante 2
rackmstackm: posts the ante 2
Ironside: posts the ante 2
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to idisc [5c]
Dealt to Austin Rules [4d]
Dealt to skitta [7d]
Dealt to DrKneenie [8s]
Dealt to pacejack [Qh]
Dealt to rackmstackm [Ks]
Dealt to Ironside [7s Kh Kc]
Austin Rules: brings-in low 5
skitta: folds
DrKneenie: folds
pacejack: raises 10 to 15
rackmstackm: folds
Ironside: raises 15 to 30
idisc: folds
Austin Rules: calls 25
pacejack: calls 15
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to Austin Rules [4d] [6s]
Dealt to pacejack [Qh] [5h]
Dealt to Ironside [7s Kh Kc] [2h]
Ironside: bets 15
Austin Rules: calls 15
pacejack: raises 15 to 30
Ironside: raises 15 to 45
Austin Rules: calls 30
pacejack: calls 15
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to Austin Rules [4d 6s] [Th]
Dealt to pacejack [Qh 5h] [3c]
Dealt to Ironside [7s Kh Kc 2h] [8d]
Ironside: bets 30
Austin Rules: folds
pacejack: calls 30
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to pacejack [Qh 5h 3c] [2c]
Dealt to Ironside [7s Kh Kc 2h 8d] [8c]
Ironside: bets 30
pacejack: calls 30
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to Ironside [7s Kh Kc 2h 8d 8c] [5d]
Ironside: bets 30
pacejack: calls 30
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Ironside: shows [7s Kh Kc 2h 8d 8c 5d] (two pair, Kings and Eights)
pacejack: mucks hand
Ironside collected 419 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 419 | Rake 0
Seat 1: idisc folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Austin Rules folded on the 5th Street
Seat 3: skitta folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 4: DrKneenie folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 5: pacejack mucked [Jh Ad Qh 5h 3c 2c Tc]
Seat 6: rackmstackm folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Ironside showed [7s Kh Kc 2h 8d 8c 5d] and won (419) with two pair, Kings and Eight

Did i get it right that at Notts you pay anyone who wants to deal?
They changed this at Walsall a few weeks back saying that a new directorate from the BGB outlawed dealers being paid by players as it can lead to cheating-this is in cash games though.
Used to have a queue of folks waiting to deal and now it's self deal and plenty of guys have lost an income!!
Ironside, all comps 20 and above are provided with house dealers at Walsall and the Broadway.
Ian

Im pretty sure the Gaming Board would take a dim view of the fact that dealers are getting paid off the top of the prize fund. Altho if the players are doing it off their own back and the casino is not involved then they may be ok.

Yogi

What is the position on players (skint ones that is) dealing cash games and receiving tips ?

As i said Karabiner this was a recent gaming board rule change, casual dealers are allowed but CANNOT be tipped by the players.
I think it's silly but as Danny at Walsall put it it's designed to stop someone dealing his/her pal a good hand.
Ian

That is most definately frowned upon by the gaming board.

We have had to stop people doing it. As has Walsall and others. I'm sure it will still go on in some places.

But would u really want some one dealing who is related to someone else in the game????????

Yogi

The main problem in Nottingham is the lack of healthy competition.

Both casinos are owned by Gala. There is a third but it's more of a private member's club.

In the good old days before Stanleys took over the old Hamblin Grand in Derby,
the casino used to add 2000 per week to the poker tournaments, the maximum allowed by the Gaming Board.

Because Derby added 2000 per week Nottingham did the same or similar.

Derby then started their monthly 100 tournament on a Tuesday with 1000 added.

Nottingham followed suit with a Sunday monthly 100 with 1000 added.

Derby started putting on a free buffet one night, ditto Nottingham.

Then Stanleys took over Derby, instantly scrapped the added money, phased out the dealers and eventually closed the cardroom.

Gala followed suit to some extent and I believe that if it were not for the sudden poker "boom"
would have closed the cardroom too.

If a Grosvenor casino were suddenly to arrive in Nottingham and provide poker with dealers
Gala would provide them instantly.

That, in my opinion is the crux of the problem.

Now if the casinos do not make any money directly out of poker tournaments 
and their following, why were they so anxious to gain their custom in the days of Hamblin Derby ?

I have not played much at Casinos , having a limited budget and expensive wife, but have played at three casinos in 10 Rebuys two of them Gala Bournemouth and Grosvenor Luton have no dealers and Grosvenor Blackpool has house dealers....Now with a 10 rebuy and 1 buy in the house are making squat on this....

However lets not overlook the fact that if Poker is bringing extra punters .. How many of them are avoiding the House Games ..Very few... And can anyone tell me of a Casino where the Poker room is at the front of the premises not at the back past all the house Games and the evils of temptation on the way in and on the way out ??? Its classic Casino design and all set up to get your money away from you and it works thats why they design them like that...  ;)

You can get in the Notts Gala cardroom without passing a single "house game" table... 8)

When I go to the Gala at notingham they make precisely 2 from me. 1 coke before the game and 1 coke before the final. I can kinda see why they're not bending over backwards to accomodate people like me. I suppose I'm the extreme. I would rather pay a full rake and have dealers although there are straight dealer players there (Tikay won't remember but he dealt my table on my second visit there last January)

As soon as I posted I thought ....I bet theres one or two where the card room will be at the front ....and RedSimon hasn't disappointed me .... I'll get my coat... ;D

But you have to pass the table to collect your winnings.  ;D

But thats so rare though! ;D

Good point well made.

Well I think we can wrap this debate up. Notts Gala is packed to the rafters every night, house dealer or no house dealers, & we are all having a ball. Sure we'd prefer dealers, but we cant have them, it's no big deal (oops), so lets carry on having fun. Come on Karabiner, come & join us. You won't regret it.

Tikay

Why don't you lend Ralph them Rose Tinted Spectacles of yours and he may come back!

That's the secret of my happiness & contentment John - Rose Tinted Spectacles!

But seriously, Poker is an irrevelance in the greater scheme of things, & I find it hard to get upset by petty problems in poker - in the real world, they are as nothing. And I am an old man - late forties now you know (though I don't look it....), so I have resolved to enjoy every day. Poker won't stop me doing that - ever!

Late 40s?!?

(cough)

Now that is a bluff.

 ;D

"Poker is an irrevelance in the greater scheme of things, & I find it hard to get upset by petty problems in poker ".

At last, some sense in all of this. I play poker to have fun and assist in my enjoyment of my life. It gives me more pleasure than most things (although Rangers winning the league on Sunday was a bit special). I have not been to Notts for a while (as I live in Greece now) but always enjoy my time there. Sure I would rather it was smoke free. Sure I would prefer house dealers. Sure I would rather win everytime I go. But, its not and I dont (although a 100% win record in the last two years...one visit!!).
For those that choose to go, let the management know anything you would prefer (in a sensible and constructive manner). If enough people do this, they will listen eventually. If you want house dealers and would be happy to pay 2.50 a player (or whatever), tell them. Some things will change, some things will not. But whatever you do, enjoy the game if you go. If you don't, stop going.
Seems pretty easy really. Life is far too short to think about the bad things in poker, think about how great the game is. How good you feel when you flop the nuts, how emotional we can get when we we get outdrawn, THAT is what makes our game special. Enjoy it.

'smoke free' now you're talking.
when I started going to nottingham I was a smoker. Since I packed in I'think I've been a good non smoker (ie not on smokers cases) but a smoking poker room as a non smoker is a horrible experience. sat between two players sharing an ashtray, both resting their fags in there while they play their hands, dodgy air conditioning.

aweful.

OK, he is a good buddy of mine, but I have to say, JBSC7769's post is a beaut.

Especially "if you have a gripe, discuss it with them in a sensible & constructive manner".

I'll take good old common sense over intelligence any day.

Both JBSC & Adam make a good point about smoking too. I am a smoker, but I would definitely support a no-smoking rule if they introduced it.

How about it Notts?

But a Yellow Card for snoopy. I AM late 40's. 47 as it happens.

The last time you saw 47 was off suit on the button and you went allyin Tony  ;D

And another for RedSimon. And on top of that I shall reveal his allegiance, a sort of "name & shame" jobbie - Notts Forest!!!!!

ahhh that explains why he calls himself "red simon"  ..... that will be the embarrassment LOL

Hmmm...Nottingham Forest purlease! ;D (Looking forward to 6 points off the nylons next season!)

Thank God I didn't call myself claretandblue snoopy, then every1 would know what crappy team I sup... oops. Ah sheesh.  :D