Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

I agree with robbiebox...

I'm a "regular" at the Luton G, and my understanding is that the players were not consulted on the format of the league and the contribution that is taken from each comp.

By playing, I'm contributing my own money into the league prize pool, but if I do not play often enough / get enough points to qualify for the league playoff, I have no chance of winning back that money. Or, I could qualify and not be able to make the league playoff date...

[sorry Tikay, not trying to take over your thread...]

I'm delighted with ANY replies, it's what this theead is about really, prompting comment & debate, so the mopre replies the better. Sometimes I feel nobody reads it if there are no replies. Or maybe it's just boring.

I really don't know if the players were consulted or not. And I trust G-Casinos completely to be honest, to be honest. And they are adding lots of lovely money. But the notion of taking "our" money, from the Players Prize Pool - and it IS ours - continues to trouble me a bit. I mean, once that door is open - messing with OUR money - where might it end?

[RED-DOG]

Sometimes I feel nobody reads it

I don't read it.

[tikay]

From the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations, as quoted in today's "The Independent". (And no, I don't buy The Independent, thank God, the Hotel gives free copies).

Warren Buffet. (You really should try reading some of his stuff. Average IQ, stratospheric common-sense. Made a bob or two, as well).

"It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked."

Homer Simpson. (Simpsons tapes would be one of my Desert Island Discs "you are allowed three luxuries" selections).

"You tried your best, you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try."

David Kay, UW Weapons Inspector in Iraq. (And thus, presumaably, one of life's great optimists, or a complete fool).

"We have not yet found any shiny pointy things that I would call a weapon."

Linda McCartney (Kodak heiress, ex-Beatle wife & animal activist).

"I don't eat anything with a face."

[M3boy]

TK, I dont think there was enough publicity of how the £30k prizepool was being made up.

Maybe a better idea would of been to "charge" another £10 (or whatever) ontop which would be for the £30k prizepool?

I too have mixed feelings about taking money from the prize pool, but with the way they have structured the qualification, it is not that hard to qualify - I would think 12 points in a month should see you in easily - but I may be wrong.

Added money from a Casino is a step in the right direction though I think.

[TheChipPrince]

I agree with robbiebox...

I'm a "regular" at the Luton G, and my understanding is that the players were not consulted on the format of the league and the contribution that is taken from each comp.

By playing, I'm contributing my own money into the league prize pool, but if I do not play often enough / get enough points to qualify for the league playoff, I have no chance of winning back that money. Or, I could qualify and not be able to make the league playoff date...

[sorry Tikay, not trying to take over your thread...]

I'm delighted with ANY replies, it's what this theead is about really, prompting comment & debate, so the mopre replies the better. Sometimes I feel nobody reads it if there are no replies. Or maybe it's just boring.

I really don't know if the players were consulted or not. And I trust G-Casinos completely to be honest, to be honest. And they are adding lots of lovely money. But the notion of taking "our" money, from the Players Prize Pool - and it IS ours - continues to trouble me a bit. I mean, once that door is open - messing with OUR money - where might it end?

As long as your being honest TK!

[tikay]

TK, I dont think there was enough publicity of how the £30k prizepool was being made up.

Maybe a better idea would of been to "charge" another £10 (or whatever) ontop which would be for the £30k prizepool?

I too have mixed feelings about taking money from the prize pool, but with the way they have structured the qualification, it is not that hard to qualify - I would think 12 points in a month should see you in easily - but I may be wrong.

Added money from a Casino is a step in the right direction though I think.

Yes Paul, I think "qualification" is pretty easy, you get a point just for turning up. And I'm sure it's all very worthy.

Added Money? You bet, I've been banging that drum for an age, & I'm really pleased with this "Added Money" trend. GUKPT, GBPT, APAT, Sky Poker, Virgin, G-Casinos, it's starting to gather momentum now. (Do the EPT add money?) And it's not a greed, or lack of trust thing, I am just a bit iffy about players entry money & Prize Pools being touched - they should be sacrosant. Once anyone starts messing with them, we are on a very slippery slope.

[tikay]

I agree with robbiebox...

I'm a "regular" at the Luton G, and my understanding is that the players were not consulted on the format of the league and the contribution that is taken from each comp.

By playing, I'm contributing my own money into the league prize pool, but if I do not play often enough / get enough points to qualify for the league playoff, I have no chance of winning back that money. Or, I could qualify and not be able to make the league playoff date...

[sorry Tikay, not trying to take over your thread...]

I'm delighted with ANY replies, it's what this theead is about really, prompting comment & debate, so the mopre replies the better. Sometimes I feel nobody reads it if there are no replies. Or maybe it's just boring.

I really don't know if the players were consulted or not. And I trust G-Casinos completely to be honest, to be honest. And they are adding lots of lovely money. But the notion of taking "our" money, from the Players Prize Pool - and it IS ours - continues to trouble me a bit. I mean, once that door is open - messing with OUR money - where might it end?

As long as your being honest TK!

I am being honest - honest!

[Snatiramas]

Hmm..............on Monday when I first saw it I would have to say that I was vocal (what me vocal) and against the concept on many different levels. Why should the players give up money that they have contributed to fuel a marketing campaign for Grosvenor. Why aren't we the players forewarned instead of giving a done deal.

But here is the rub

I like the Grosvenor Luton. It is my poker home. The people who pitch up and play are some of the nicest people I have come across. There is good banter. Sometimes it may go a bit far (as with the professional player on Monday) but for sure I have spent more time laughing at the venue than scowling. The cardroom team genuinely try to please and help people. If Grosvenor are trying to promote the place where I love to play then I am going to support that as strongly as I can.

On the technical point of qualification. Once you have qualified you can't qualify again. It will move down the list. There will be at the end 128 different qualifiers. I know it will not suit everybody. Maybe it will encourage people to play twice instead of once a week. Maybe there will be larger fields. If those things happen it is good for all players as the prize pools become larger.
One thing is certain. Grosvenor can't afford to do nothing. Competition for the live poker pound gets stronger all the time. They really should consider how they utilise their venues. They are missing out on a range of money making and marketing ideas. Here is one for free.........why is the restaurant empty and how could we fill it.

[M3boy]

Snatty

Looking at your number plate has reminded me, I saw one the other day that I want to buy.

As I do not have the gual to pay £8k for "M3 BOY" I saw one for a modest £400 , it is "M30 OYS" which obviously with a well placed bolt, and some re spacing will read "M3 BOYS"

What saddos's we are lol

As for the restaurant, having different food would help! They only have 3 or 4 main meals - why not have theme nights??

[bobby1]

Hmm..............on Monday when I first saw it I would have to say that I was vocal (what me vocal) and against the concept on many different levels. Why should the players give up money that they have contributed to fuel a marketing campaign for Grosvenor. Why aren't we the players forewarned instead of giving a done deal.

But here is the rub

I like the Grosvenor Luton. It is my poker home. The people who pitch up and play are some of the nicest people I have come across. There is good banter. Sometimes it may go a bit far (as with the professional player on Monday) but for sure I have spent more time laughing at the venue than scowling. The cardroom team genuinely try to please and help people. If Grosvenor are trying to promote the place where I love to play then I am going to support that as strongly as I can.

On the technical point of qualification. Once you have qualified you can't qualify again. It will move down the list. There will be at the end 128 different qualifiers. I know it will not suit everybody. Maybe it will encourage people to play twice instead of once a week. Maybe there will be larger fields. If those things happen it is good for all players as the prize pools become larger.
One thing is certain. Grosvenor can't afford to do nothing. Competition for the live poker pound gets stronger all the time. They really should consider how they utilise their venues. They are missing out on a range of money making and marketing ideas. Here is one for free.........why is the restaurant empty and how could we fill it.

Instead of food and gimmicks why don't they try sensible structures and sensible prize stuctures?

[Rookie (Rodney)]

Snatty

Looking at your number plate has reminded me, I saw one the other day that I want to buy.

As I do not have the gual to pay £8k for "M3 BOY" I saw one for a modest £400 , it is "M30 OYS" which obviously with a well placed bolt, and some re spacing will read "M3 BOYS"

What saddos's we are lol

As for the restaurant, having different food would help! They only have 3 or 4 main meals - why not have theme nights??

You will get pulled over a few times mate. I had a ticket issued whilst mine was parked outside my house! R88KLE. They even picked off the bolt cover thing.

[M3boy]

A little harsh Bobby.

On the whole, I think their structures and payouts are ok. I still think they pay far too many places. 10% of the field max is what should happen I think

[bobby1]

A little harsh Bobby.

On the whole, I think their structures and payouts are ok. I still think they pay far too many places. 10% of the field max is what should happen I think

to be fair Paul there were many players saying the same thing after the last festival, did you read Neil Channings piece on THMF, he summed the situation up rather well.



 The other thing that slows things down is the lack of an ante. An insistence that "we never have an ante in Luton" doesn't seem a good enough reason to make all their competitions especially suitable for total rocks. At 11.30pm my 'phone rang. I told the excited other party that I was still in. I'd survived with an average stack. I didn't like to mention that after four hours only ten people were out. If it ran to plan then around forty people would be still playing at 5.30am. They would then come back at 2pm on Wednesday when over half of them would be eliminated with no prize money, while eight lucky people would play for another five hours to get a little less than their buy-in back. Why on earth did I come here?

[M3boy]

I totally agree with the running ante situation - we need it!

Also the last festival (The GUKPT one) the payouts were terrible, I posted on the subject myself. BUT the weekly comps they run work well.

[tikay]

I totally agree with the running ante situation - we need it!

Also the last festival (The GUKPT one) the payouts were terrible, I posted on the subject myself. BUT the weekly comps they run work well.

Yes, the regular weekly comps are probably as good as any in the UK as to structure.

I did hear many complaints about the Fessie Structure & Prize Pool, but I missed most of it, so don't know the score really.

Tell you what - try getting a valet to serve you a drink there - nightmare city! But they have a free drinks machine for tea, coffee & chocolate, so that's bearwithable.

On balance, my fave Venue in the UK, & luckiest. And, allegedly (according to the THM Database), I'm the all-time 20th winningmost player there, whatever that means. Statistics, & lies, eh?