12/15/06

This week's adventure took me out to Atlantic City. The Gem of Jersey, the Playground of the Populous and a sad reflection of itself in the summer. Seriously -- Jersey in November? What the hell was I thinking? I was thinking of POKER, and on a limited basis, that is exactly what I was doing. I knew that the two best spots in town would be easy to pick and that is where I headed! On the Boardwalk to the Trump Taj and up the road to the Borgata. I must say that this trip completely changed my mind about east coast poker after some of my previous experiences and once again showed me that while the games remain the same, the flavour can change for one part of the world to the next, even inside the States.

The Trump Taj Mahal:

Made infamous to “Poker Boomers” in the movie Rounders, the Taj is the place where Worm and Mike McD journey after Mike’s love interest decides that one night out with friends playing poker is worth dumping him and sticking him with a massive rent check. What it details in passing but cannot relate is that ‘the Taj’ was the Bull of the Boardwalk before the Borgata showed up and still boasts an impressive (although aging) casino and room amenities. The poker room is large, 78 tables going on the weekends at any time, clean and spread out. No food at the tables cuts down on the clutter and mess but they will keep the drinks coming if you so desire. One side note for most of the Lifesabluff.com crew, this is a Coca-Cola establishment, praise be to the poker gods, no trekking a half hour out of your way just to get a decent cola. That aside, there are several other positives that must be mentioned.

The selection of games and seating:

I am a big, big fan and proponent of having several styles of poker available at any time in a poker room and I am sorry to see the current trend turning most card rooms into Hold ‘Em dens. Even though I spend the bulk of my time there in the soft action, nothing stimulates my poker brain more and refreshes my love of the strategy and mental-warfare side of the game like a mixed game or a heavy stud session. The Taj spreads an impressive array of games including Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud, Stud Hi/Lo, Hold ‘Em Limit and NL, and – under demand – blends of all of the above with several running at any given time. I was even able to get into a 3/6 Omaha Hi/Lo – Stud Hi/Lo game that bumped up to 5/10 a short while later. While it wasn’t a cash cow for me that night, it is probably the most pleasant playing experience I had the whole time. The Hold Em action has Limit Levels all the way up to 200/400 (I was playing on a Sunday night so it may go bigger on Friday/Saturday nights) and spreads an impressive variety of NLHE spreads. The most common being the 1-2 with a $100 minimum and a $300 maximum. To my new poker buddy and Life’s A Bluff fan from Middle Pennsylvania – I had pocket sevens on that dud flop, thanks for laying down the Jacks. To save his dignity, he did take about $160 off me a few pots earlier and that bluff hardly reclaimed it all. Much love to you and your poker room sir, and I hope your night kept going well after you hopped off the 3/6 O.E. Hi/Lo rotation game. While a lot of this has to do with the fact that the East Coast prides itself in being the last bastion of stud poker, it was good to see the floor keeping interest list going and actively helping interested players recruit a full table and keep games going strong. While the variety and selection is not up to par with the Bike or the Commerce in L.A. it does a hell of a job keeping a variety of games going for anyone walking in the door and should be applauded for that.

The Taj gets a very strong 8 bluffs out of 10 for its game selection, amenities and maintenance.

Staff and Service:

While the desk staff and wait staff in other parts of the Taj left something to be desired, the poker room ran like clockwork. No fighting over seats, overcrowded or dead tables or wondering just when you were finally going to get the game you were called for. The crew strives to find your game, find you and get you right to your seat and keep things hopping. I think my longest wait for one of the five games I signed up for was just under 10 minuets. I think this is mostly due to the room being fully staffed and the dealers and the floor personnel being very knowledgeable and professional. The tables themselves are comfortable, clean and have clearly defined betting lines, seat locations and even rake areas that should be a model for lesser rooms. Small mark against them for not having food service in the room, but a very small one since arguments go both ways on that one. Not quite as posh as the Venetian or the Bellagio, but a far cry from lacking in comfort.

The quality of the staff and equipment pulls to a score of 8.5 bluffs out of 10. Check the photos and see for yourself.

Tournaments:

Hosting two regional large scale tournaments (including the soon to begin 2006 Trump Poker Classic) every year and two tournaments daily, the Taj does not shy away from tournament style play. Sit and Goes are available at levels up to around $500 and begin when the interest list gets big enough to fill a table. My one tournament ended in the fifth level but I can attest that the Taj attracts a wide variety of playing styles and is not a soft spot like so many small Vegas Games. Typically about 100 runners per game but slow days can fall as low as 60-70. The payout structure is nice and is chopped up among about the top 10%. Buy in range for $50-$100 (including service fees) and the dealing staff is accomplished and know how to run their tables. It did not feel like I was in the new dealers training area at any time during my play. The blind structure is a bit aggressive if you are looking to pace your play. We started with 5,000 in chips and 25/50 blinds and by the third level we were at 100/200 with a 25 ante. It certainly forces faster play and a bit looser hand selection than I am used to, though I have always believed that you can get used to any structure if you practice it enough. God knows if it isn’t something you feel you can ever get comfortable with, then there is another game down the street.

The Trump Poker Classic offers an interesting mix of games including $300 and $500 Stud and Omaha games as well as a couple Omaha Hi/Lo & Stud Hi/Lo rotation tournaments I would have loved to play in. While the vast majority of the tournaments between the 27th of November and the 17th of December are Hold ‘Em, there is a great mix thrown in there including Senior’s and Ladies Tournaments, short handed and team play at different buy-in levels. It is capped off with a $5000 two-day event and there is a $1000 super-satellite the day before. (With a satellite that expensive, I can only guess they will be giving away a lot of seats if the pot will have enough for one seat for every 5 players.) The timing is a little conflicted with other December Tournaments in Vegas and L.A. so I would guess it will be a big event for the local hard hitters and maybe some pros looking to sock away some last minuet Car Player or other Player of the Year points. Great game selection and lots of sub $1000 events making it accessible to about every player (even though space may be limited) speaks wonders for its majors however the dailies seem to be unimaginative and pushed a little fast. Not to say they aren’t quality games, but there is some room for improvement and creativity.

I give it a check-raised 7.5 bluffs out of 10 from my short visit.

The Borgata:

Borrrrrr-ga-TA!

I have no idea what the hell the name means or is supposed to refer to, but what I do know is that the Borgata holds its own in terms of class, quality and poise with almost any other casino I have ever seen. It has some of the best amenities that I have seen outside of Vegas and even then it does not look like a second-rate substitute like some many “top” casinos in places like Reno, Tahoe and Tunica. The headliners are pretty A list and the selection of restaurants includes a Wolfgang Puck restaurant and a wide selection of tasty other eateries and bars. All that aside, the crowning jewel in this felt-fiend’s mind is the gorgeous 85 table poker room.

See for yourself;

The selection of games and seating:

85 tables. The most in Atlantic City and a massive number in Las Vegas or California. The tables all still look very new, very clean and are very, very comfortable. Hopefully, you are looking at some pictures posted with this forum and you can see the plasma TVs mounted on every beautifully bevelled angle of the poker room ceiling. I can’t stress enough how breathtaking this poker room really is. There are very few that play in its league anywhere in the world based on visual appeal, style, cleanliness and class. Topping that off, the brush areas are organized and computerized and the boards are constantly and quickly updated. The spread of games is very broad with a selection of Hold ‘Em, Omaha, Stud and Mixed Games playing at various limits, including Hi/Lo and Kill Pot varieties. On top of this, the Borgata spreads one of the widest limit varieties of Sit and Go Hold ‘Em games that I have ever seen on a poker room floor, even during tournament satellites. I’ll cover that a bit later on but I think I can wrap up this section by saying that the Borgata truly is the gem of Atlantic City and I can’t remember the last time that I was this stunned walking into a poker room. I could spend a LONG time barking about it, but the room really speaks for itself, and if not, there are top players around the world ready to give you a high opinion of the place.

I give it a huge 9.5 bluffs out of 10.

Staff and Service:

I was seated so fast I did not even get a chance to get the names of the wonderful staff on the front brush board. While I was only able to sit in with about 3 dealers in the 1/2 NLHE game, but during that time I saw some talented card handling, dispute resolution (no need to call the floor man when the table is run that tight) and people skills. It is refreshing to get an upbeat dealer, but it can change your outlook on the game and then your whole play level when you get a consistent, energetic dealing staff even on a down time like Monday morning. Nothing ticks me off more at a table than people that abuse dealers – especially competent ones – but you would have to be a real bastard to find something to pick on with the staff I was lucky to have at the Borgata. I only wish I could have spent more time with them! Looks like I have a reason to head back to Atlantic City (other than saltwater taffy close proximity to ‘real’ Philly Steak sandwiches). Speaking of friendly service, after playing, I stopped back at the service desk to ask a few questions about the tournament set up and game selection for this article and was given another pleasant surprise. From the rear board, Darla (I hope I’m spelling your name right dear) bent over backwards to get me in touch with the poker room manager, the tournament manager or anyone that could get me any extra tid-bits of information. Unfortunately, they were all either engaged or not available, but the staff on hand gets an “A” for effort for treating me like a rock star for my short time in the Borgata. You guys will be the reason that I am staying at the Borgata my next time in Atlantic City. The only point against the room seems to be a standard practice in AC poker rooms; no food at the tables. No matter, the positives outweigh the negatives and as nice at the rest of the place is, I’ll probably want to get out to grab a bite.

9 bluffs out of 10!

Tournaments:

You want tournament action? You got it. Major WPT Events, Super Satellites (and the Ultimate Satellite), Daily Tournaments and Sit N’ Go selections like you may never see again. Let me lay it out for you here and then I’ll stick in my comments afterwards:

Sit and Go Single Table Tournaments:
$1,000+40 (1st - $7,000, 2nd - $2,000, 3rd - $1,000) 5000 chips, 20 min levels
$500+30 (1st - $3500, 2nd - $1,000, 3rd - $500) 4000 chips, 20 min levels
$250+20 (1st - $1,500, 2nd - $600, 3rd - $400) 3000 chips, 20 min levels
$100+20 (1st - $700, 2nd - $300) 3000 chips, 15 min levels
$60+15 (1st - $400, 2nd $200) 2000 chips, 15 min levels

NLHE Tournament Monday – Thursday 7pm & Sunday 4pm
$100 Buy-in, $20 Entry Fee, Optional Add-on After Level 3

NLHE Tournament Monday – Thursday 11am & Sunday 11 am
$50 Buy-in, $10 Entry Fee, Optional Add-on After Level 3

$50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool. Every Friday at Noon through December.
$250 + $30 No Limit Hold'Em. 6000 chips.

Borgata WPT/Winter Open Jan. 17 – 30, 2007 (All events NLHE)

WPT Borgata Poker Open Sept 5 – 19th 2006 (Multiple Events and Games)

And the ultimate TP/MM poker wet dream,
The Ultimate Super Satellite Tournament Series!
Event #1 -- $110 + $20 Ultimate Qualifier (1 in 10 win voucher for the Ultimate Super Satellite)

Event #2 -- $220 + $30 Ultimate Qualifier (1 in 5 win a voucher for the Ultimate Super Satellite)

Event #3 -- $1000 + $100 Ultimate Super Satellite where 1 in 60 win the following:
o $10,000 WPT Borgata Classic Entry
o $10,000 WPT LA Poker Classic
o $10,000 WPT Foxwoods WPF
o $25,500 WPT Championship
o $4500 Cash (Travel & Hotel Expenses)
It’s over now, but they plan to keep running these, see Various Poker Holiday Giveaways.

See what I mean? I think that the Borgata “gets” tournament players and strives to give them all something to look forward to. I think that the Ultimate Super Satellite is a stroke of Genius and having that kind of tournament game selection on tap year round is phenomenal. You have impressed us, mighty Borgata team! Only some small issues. First, the Daily Tournaments lack the variety you might get other places. They could have mixed game days, limit days, speed poker, short handed, rebuy, etc. but they don’t. Second, the Winter Open is ALL NLHE with one Limit event. I know it’s the hot game, and I believe it will remain so, but I would like to see them keep that AC tradition alive and offer at least one Stud and a couple Omaha Events to spice things up. Minor, minor things but it keeps them from being THE poker tournament Mecca.

9 bluffs out of 10.

The Victor:

While the Taj is a great place to play and one that I wouldn’t mind calling my home if I live in AC, the hands down winner here is the Borgata. The Taj is the stalwart old champion here (think Apollo Creed…he may loose, but its still alright to love ‘em) and the Borgata is the slick, new, cybernetic killing machine. You just can’t match what it has thrown together in Atlantic City unless you build a bigger, better casino. And that will take some doing. So if you pack your bags for Jersey, or the Godfather just send you there for a bit while the city cools off… stay and play at the Borgata. You will thank me.

Matt Waldron

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