West Midlands Poker

[clynd99]

Hi all,
I"m new to APAT and poker in general really, and one thing that I really want to do is play in more live tourneys. However, I"ve found it really difficult to find out where and when these are occuring in my home region of the West Midlands.
I"ve scoured the internet looking for some sort of online database of all competitions being held but haven"t found anything that will list anything smaller than a GBPT size event.
I receive a monthly letter with a card room schedule from a casino in Dudley where I play sometimes, but I"ve found it hard to get information from anywhere else, ie) Birmingham area, most casinos don"t even have a proper website, and when they do, it"s not very helpful.
Does anyone know of any regular tournaments in the area? (The £300 monthly Walsall freezeout is a little above my bankroll!) Does anyone know any websites that may be of any use?
I"ve also heard that a casino in Ladywood, Birmingham has been added as an APAT venue, is this true, and if so, what are the plans for it?
Cheers,
clynd99

[RioRodent]

http://www.stanleycasinos.com/site/Home/PokerEvent.aspx

http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/home/poker_directory.shtml

http://www.broadwaycasino.co.uk/live/poker4.asp

http://www.theislecoventry.com/casino-poker.php

[kinboshi]

The Isle is a nice place.  Will be even better when they get dealers.  A really nicely kitted out casino, a nice change to the "cookie-cutter" casinos you see elsewhere.

[HannibleL316]

I played at a Stanley casino on Saturday night.
1st time playing there, entered a £33 NL Hold em freeze out tournament.

I didnt think much of it, alot of players raising stupid amounts pre-flop.
Im talking at least 7 times the BB.

Can anyone recommend good tournaments where the players know what there doing and you dont get maniacs at your table?

[kinboshi]

You want maniacs at the table surely? Why play against "decent" players?

Just have to adapt your game to beat them, but they can make it very profitable for you.

[kinboshi]

Oh - and the standard of live play is usually far worse than that you see online.  That"s at the low levels I play anyway.

[HannibleL316]

Are you serious about that its worse live than online? That has shocked me! Lol

Yeh I know what you mean about wanting weak players at the table but its horrible not knowing where you stand, and you know more when your playing good players.
Its personal preference I suppose, but I actually prefer playing good players. I enjoy it more.

On Saturday I saw somone raise 4 times the BB from 3rd position, the person in 4th position called and so did the BB.
The flop came 3 9 J. The orignal raiser bet half the pot, the person in 4th position called, and the BB folded. Turn came 3. Original raiser again bet, it was approx half the pot again. Other person called. River was a 4 or 5, (Blank anyway for both players). Original raiser bet nearly the pot now and the person in 4th position called again.
The original raiser showed pocket Kings. The person in 4th person who called the pre flop raise remember showed down 93 offsuit. I mean that is a prime example of not knowing where you stand. And plus he didnt even re-raise on the river either.

[kinboshi]

Absolutely serious.  Far better players online than live in many cases at the lower level games. 

There are a fair amount of donkeys as well (both live and online), but overall the standard online is higher.

As for wanting to play good players - I think you more likely mean you like to play players who play a certain way.  Playing against a loose-aggressive decent player who"s raising up lots of pots can be a very hard game to play. 

I"d rather play a table of people who "think" they can play well - when in fact, they are very easy to read and put on a hand.  Predictable is good.

[HannibleL316]

No I dont mind playing against loose-aggressive decent players, its harder playing against loose-aggressive weak players.
Just weak mainiac players in general and thats what I found the majority was at that casino last Saturday.

[davef86]

Theres a £30 F/O at China Palace Circus casino in Birmingham. Opposite the arcardian, decent players mixed with some poor ones. Parking in the Arcadian.

[HannibleL316]

F/O = freezout?

Does that mean no re-buys?

[davef86]

Yes it means Freezeout, and yes than means no rebuys...