Turning Stone

Originally Posted by 9h10h

Has anyone played here often and has any information on what they offer, the gameplay at those tables, and the best places to dine and stay?
Thanks.

Are you from the area?

I live about an hour from Turning Stone Casino and play there frequently. Here is an overview:
Their poker area consists of two largeish rooms. They have electronic waiting boards to get on tables if its busy. Usually there are quite a few people there playing, regardless of what your you show up. Rake is 3 dollars, on any pot over 10.
For games they offer:

NLHE
NL100 max buyin, 1/2 blinds. This is where I play. I find this game to be pretty soft. Lots of decent, semi-aware players, but plenty of fish to go around. I have not been overly impressed with the competition at this level. Occasionally you will find a really good player, but solid, smart agression destroys these tables pretty good (people are in general pussies about their hands.)
NL200 max buyin 1/2 blinds: Ive never sat here, but from what ive observed, its basically the same game, with less fish.
NL300 max buyin, 2/4(??) blinds: Dont know much about this game, assume its at least semi-competitive.

LHE:
1/3, 1/1 blinds: Lots of terrible, terrible players here. I found it really hard to beat the rake though. When most pots are ~15 dollars, a 20% rake is ultra harsh. On the other hand, people regularly sit down with 15-20 dollars, thinking they can play decent poker with 6 big bets (retarded).
3/6, 1/3 blinds: Basically a slightly improved variation of 1/3. Ive only played here once, but I did very well. As an example, one of the first hands I saw when I sat down at this game, I saw 4 people cap it preflop, and 3 of them had Axo, the highest "x" being a T...if that is any indication of the skill level.

I dont know what else for limit they offer, as I dont play limit HE, but I believe they offer 4/8, 5/10, 10/20, and sometimes 20/40 if there is enough interest. I also saw a 10/20 kill game there too once I think.

They almost always have a 7cS game going, 3/6 or 5/10 limit I think. These tables are filled with people ages 65+ for the most part, and from what ive observed they are absolutely terrible. I think playing here would be extremely profitable.

They also offer other variations of poker, if enough interest is generated. Tell the board manager you are interested in playing xxxxx, and you will be added to an interest list. XXX being, PL omaha, omaha hi-lo split, and/or 7cS hi-lo. Since you have to specially request to be put on a list for these games and they arent regularly run, I would assume the skill level there is pretty high.
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As far as places to eat, there are lots of places in the casino building to get sandwiches, burgers, etc You can have food delivered right to the table if you want. Also, you get a $5 comp for playing NLHE, and a $3 one for playing LHE, which is a pretty good deal. There is also a real, sit down place to eat that is open 24 hours. With the poker comps the prices are very managable (like $3-4 for a burger or sandwich, like $5-7 for a real dinner with comps), and the food is amazing.

Because I live close, I have never stayed in their hotel, so I dont know the prices or quality, but I'm sure its pretty nice.

Hope this was helpful, any more questions post here or PM me.

I'm planning on going up there next weekend. It will be my first time in a B+M casino. I have a couple of questions about etiquette. After winning a pot, how much is an appropiate toke? Any thing in general you recommend seeing or staying away from? I am 18, and have been playing poker for about 2 years, semi-serious. I ALWAYS win atleast 50 per session in homegames, and am profitable on the internet about 70% of sessions played. If I plan on playing the 1/2 NL 100 tables, is 250 a reasonable roll to last a whole weekend considering I play TAG? Also, one last stupid question, I have heard that in addition to the blinds there is an anti every hand?! I can't imagine it being true because it messes with the blind stucture, but I figured I would ask anyway.

Ok, answers:

"After winning a pot, how much is an appropiate toke?"
I usually tip $0 on small pots, $1 on medium/large pots, and maybe $5+ on really monster (like $300) pots depending on if I feel generous.

"Any thing in general you recommend seeing or staying away from?"
Not really, except for maybe any casino game that is not poker. I have been several times and I'm proud to say I have never put a cent on slots, roulette, craps, or any other dumb game where the house has an edge on my money. It's just a principle thing for me I guess. I do reccomend going to the Emrald (whatever its called) Restaraunt though. The food is extremly good.

"If I plan on playing the 1/2 NL 100 tables, is 250 a reasonable roll to last a whole weekend considering I play TAG?"
I guess it depends on what kind of edges you want to push (like flopped bottom two pair against TPTK for example), but I feel uncomfortable going there with less than 5 buyins. I want to be able to cover variance. Are you rolled for 100NL? (meaning you have $1500+ available to throw at the game...)

"Also, one last stupid question, I have heard that in addition to the blinds there is an anti every hand?! I can't imagine it being true because it messes with the blind stucture, but I figured I would ask anyway."
Ante? Hell no, that'd be pretty gay. I dont think there is even ante on the 7cS tables.

I will probably be there this weekend too, maybe I'll see yah on the tables.

Thanks for the great info.
I have another question about Turning Stone though. I have seen the final table of their big tourney televised on FSN (D'agistino and Ivey heads-up I believe) and was wodnering if you could play if you were 18. Other info would be helpful, i.e. the buy-in and when it is usually held.

How do you play 7cs with no ante? Last time I checked it's almost required.

I've never been to Turning Stone, but many of my friends have. One of the best players in our home games was sitting at the 100NL table with $1100 after 4 hours. He plays very aggressive, and just ran the table. He'd been up one more time and came back even.

And to anyone who is under 18, as long as you look somewhat older, or are tall, then you will not get ID'd. Many of my underaged friends have gotten in and won/lost money and left without being forced out.

T-Stone has an electric board now? I thought they were still on dry erase white board.

I guess I'll list my experiences:
I have been up there about 8 or 9 times, which isn't too bad considering it's about a 5 hour drive from Philly. I started out playing the 1/3 Limit games, but as the previous poster mention before me, this game was not fun. I finally learned my lesson, and began playing 1/2NL. Inbetween all that, I also played in about 6 multi-table tournements.

1/3LHE:
This is ideal for no fold'em hold'em. Maybe 1 or 2 players will drop pre-flop and that's it. The last time I played at this table, I was up a lot of money, and I was waiting for my friends to finish up gambling so would could leave. I brought $80 to the table to just waste time. I played ultra loose, and actually won some money. When I was done, I just tipped the dealer whatever I was up.

1/2NL:
You'll get a few players that are really good, like the gentlemen before me already said, but I've almost always come away with money when I sit at one of these tables.

MTT:
This is actually where I won the most money. The buy in's range start at around 60, so they are easily afforable. And if you can do well, you in for a nice prize.

As for the rooms:
I went up for about 4 days over Spring Break. We stayed in the same room all 4 days. I think we got comped for the most part, but the regular rates are about $80 a night. The rooms are very nice, too.