Rivers Casino (Des Plaines, IL)

The 5/5 or 5/10 usually runs every day and typically has a straddle

I suppose it’s possible we’ve both played all over and managed to play in completely different places. But I really really doubt you’ve played all over if that’s your conclusion. I think you might be on drugs if you think the weekend waiting lists and the super nitty games at Rivers are just totally normal.

I won't claim to have played all over. That being said, I have played in enough places to have what I believe to be a fair sample size. Vegas, Atlantic City, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, California, London, Aruba, and Amsterdam among others. You have good and bad games in all of these places. From my experience, some of it is random, and some of it is pretty consistent. You also have incredibly long lists, and at times short waits at others. Rivers casino games can be great and they can be nitty, just like anywhere else. Same with the wait lists. Most winning regular players know how to sort out when to go and when to leave/avoid. They also sort out how to manage lists and their time. It's a bit harder when traveling but a skill you need to master if you want to win.

What casino in the US in the US has longer lists than Rivers at 8pm on a random weekend?

Just a hint, if you draw a triangle between Chicago, Dallas and Jacksonville that’s where the softest games in the US are.

Talking Stick in Arizona had 2-3 hour wait lists many times I was there. And I consider that to be one of, if not the best run poker room in the country. And I'm not playing multi state geographic guessing games.

I played a ton at Rivers and after the first year or so of opening and when online check-in happened I rarely had to wait more than c. 45m once I got there, unless it was basically exactly Friday after work time.

The games were always generally better midweek or Sundays but I think that's universal other than Vegas where poker rooms are busy.

I've heard the bbj drop is going from $1 --> $2 can anyone verify?

Also regarding the above Rivers is definitely one of the better rooms in the Midwest as far as action goes. The room is filled with mostly locals and waitlists if navigated correctly are minimal. Just checkin on the Bravo app about an hour before you arrive and you will be near the top of list. I've never waited more than 20-30mins unless I forgot to checkin on Bravo.

It sounds mismanaged if it is having many 2-3 hour wait lists.

How often does 5T+ NLH run? Is it daily? If so, what time does it usually start up?

Is the BigO game on Monday public or private? Anyone know the background on the game? I’ve never seen BigO on the Rivers Bravo before. Didn’t know it was spread.

This is true about the promo dollar getting bumped from $1 to $2.

But the weird thing is they didnt up any of the high hands/promos. They said they wanted to build a reserve while they figure out what promos they want to offer. Seems like bs to me.

But even worse than that is that extra dollar with no higher promos was only supposed to be thru October and that new higher promos were going to be added Nov 1. Now I was told those won't start until after Jan 1. That will be approximately 450,000 extra dollars in the reserve they'll supposedly have to pay out in promos.

private game. a 5/5 PLO reg started it. if you want to get in it, play some 5/5 PLO and ask the asian reg w/ the mask on.

Been a couple months since I've been to rivers. Rumor was they were going to start doing double board plo bomb pots. Has this started or anybody know anything about this?

So, I'm bored. Two cards isnt enough . . . how about we use 4?

Cool.

I'm bored again, one board isnt enough action . . . how about we do 2 boards?

Cool.

I'm still bored. too many people are folding pre, how about we force everyone to see two flops?

Cool.

At this point, you're not playing poker, you're just feeding your pathological lack of an attention span or impulse control.

I mean, a real degen would insist on doing Big O double board bomb pots, amirite?
That way you could as many as 4 winners per hand.

I'm sure you'll tell me how much strategy there is, but admit it, you're just an action junkie.
Which is fine. Just own it.
You don't have the patience or discipline to play NL and wait for the right opportunities/set-ups/situations.

It's Amurca! I'm fine with you all playing that, but dont try to tell us it's poker.
Poker is a psychology and math-based strategy game.
PLO double board bomb pot is not it's basically the buffet equivalent of red-bull, speed-balls, meth, and cocaine.

Or..... you're forcing the nits to actually put some money in the pot every once in a while before they have the nuts.

Wait... did they actually add double-board bomb pots? I agree, it's basically just gambling. And if it's played every time a new dealer comes in, that one hand often takes up a significant amount of each half-hour.

If you want to encourage more action, I'd rather the blind/ante structure was changed, like add a third blind or some other way to make the starting pot size larger. That makes the nit strategy even less profitable. Plus,if a nit doesn't want to put in money, they can just sit out the bomb pots.

Nit

Hilarious.

Has anybody played in the 5/10 PLO5/Big O game frequently showing up on the Bravo app? Any insights?

private game. a 5/5 PLO reg started it. if you want to get in it, play some 5/5 PLO and ask the asian reg w/ the mask on.

Why is the poker room cashier cage so poorly managed? 12 people in line, one cashier and a manager verifying bills and 3 floors sitting behind the desk doing nothing. Absolute joke waiting 30 mins to cash out

Did the bad beat get hit? I was there Monday afternoon and it was 300K. Now its 126K.

Yes, Monday night. Quads vs. Royal

There’s a 5/5 BigO game on Fridays now too. Round by round BigO and 5 card PLO.