Problems at Walsall.

[NoflopsHomer]

Hey all, yesterday I took a friend of mine to his first live poker tournament (the rookie one at Walsall)  and whilst he had a good time, he and I discussed a number of problems with the tournament after we'd both busted out.

1. Starting chips, 1000 with blinds at 25/50. Frankly, he doesn't find that playable, you've basically got to double up with the first half-decent hand you get. Plus now that they've scrapped the 50 freezeout on Tuesdays, people who actually want to play poker rather than be involved in a crapshoot are getting punished.

2. PL or NL?. When I called the casino to check, I was told it was NL but my friend tried moving all-in at one point and got stopped by a couple of the other players who told him he couldn't do that because it was PL. He was very confused and wasn't sure what to do, but decided not to cause trouble. (I told him afterwards to speak to management if people start telling him how to play).

3. No, that's a cash chip. A couple of people at my table had some cash chips left over from Blackjack and one of them, purely by accident used it to call a bet. Even so people who have other chips around shouldn't be allowed to keep their cash chips on the table, it's just common sense.

4. Chips. Please can we go more than 30 seconds without having swap chips between the players because someone needs five 100 chips, this isn't monopoly.

These are all reasons which stop people coming back and it's a real shame

[ifm]

1. What do you expect for a 10 comp? they have to get it finished at some point another comp starts at 9. I think 20 times the BB is more than enough, pretty much all casinos do this (a couple tried 1500 but it took too long).
2. They obviously got it wrong when you called (you should ask for the cardroom when you call though). It is announced *before* play starts whether it is PL or NL also it says so on the electronic screen so no excuse there..........
3. agreed
4. This has always been and probably always will be a pain in the arse, i read one of DC's articles from a good few years back and he complained about it then.
I don't think any of these will put folks off though, the biggest promlem at Walsall right now is the lack of staff, there were 2 valets doing 163 people on friday, it's an absolute joke.
Ian

[elblondie]

Its funny but I still find the lack of small chips on the table rediculous. Its like the tournament directors deliberately want to make life difficulkt for their dealers and want to annoy the players. Giving small chips when someone makes a rebuy is the simplist way in the world to remove aggrevation from your cardroom.

[dik9]

I am really sorry noflopshomer, I think the scrapping of the 50 freezeout was my fault! Probably due to Broadways 20 nl game that seemed to have proved popular. I believe now that junction 10 are doing .....erm....... a 20 nl comp.....strange that eh Dani?
Guarantees down there too on Sunday, Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday. Guess which days the Broadway's comps are? Oh Dani it must be lovely working for a PLC! This is fantastic for poker players but why not guarantee 7 days a week? Shall i Give you an incentive.....we are going 7 days a week in the very near future!!! PMSL

[Scottish Dave]

Hey all, yesterday I took a friend of mine to his first live poker tournament (the rookie one at Walsall) and whilst he had a good time, he and I discussed a number of problems with the tournament after we'd both busted out.

1. Starting chips, 1000 with blinds at 25/50. Frankly, he doesn't find that playable, you've basically got to double up with the first half-decent hand you get. Plus now that they've scrapped the 50 freezeout on Tuesdays, people who actually want to play poker rather than be involved in a crapshoot are getting punished.

2. PL or NL?. When I called the casino to check, I was told it was NL but my friend tried moving all-in at one point and got stopped by a couple of the other players who told him he couldn't do that because it was PL. He was very confused and wasn't sure what to do, but decided not to cause trouble. (I told him afterwards to speak to management if people start telling him how to play).

3. No, that's a cash chip. A couple of people at my table had some cash chips left over from Blackjack and one of them, purely by accident used it to call a bet. Even so people who have other chips around shouldn't be allowed to keep their cash chips on the table, it's just common sense.

4. Chips. Please can we go more than 30 seconds without having swap chips between the players because someone needs five 100 chips, this isn't monopoly.

These are all reasons which stop people coming back and it's a real shame

if you think that structure is bad, you should see the River Boat gala in Glasgow

- 1000 stating chips, with blinds of 50 / 100!!!!!!!!

and when you rebuy, they give you one single 1000 chip!, leaving you to hunt for change!!!

shocking structure!

[Woodsey]

I went to walsall for the first time on saturday and the 10 comp was just a chip throw fest and totally got on my tits. Don't get me wrong, I normally play at Nottingham so am used to rebuys but 10 is just too cheap and wasn't much fun.

On a positive note I really enjoyed the cash games which in my case was hold'em. Most places (including Nottingham) usually only play DC,  I can't play most of the games so I don't get involved. I would love to see the odd cash game just for holdem in other places, I think you would find alot more people would play if there was.

[Bongo]

On a positive note I really enjoyed the cash games which in my case was hold'em. Most places (including Nottingham) usually only play DC,  I can't play most of the games so I don't get involved. I would love to see the odd cash game just for holdem in other places, I think you would find alot more people would play if there was.

Indeed - I've never played cash live and would like to get to grips with playing a game i'm comfortable with before venturing on to something like DC.

[ifm]

they tried DC at walsall but AFAIK it was never played as nobody ha a clue what it was!!

[BlueWolf]

I heard Dc cash games were taking off at walsall??? lol

the antes and chips sound about right and i thought walsalls staffing issues had been sorted and it was our turn up here lol

[ifm]

walsalls staffing problems have been sorted so the management think, they decided NOT to employ anyone which sort of doesn't work when they NEED more staff.
DC was put on the board, nobody played it and so it is now gone!!

[BlueWolf]

sounds pretty much the same here with the staff thing although we were ok for a while but now the mass departures are beginning again lol