Tuesday, November 3, 2015

While Figuring Out the Future of The Blog (or Lack Therof)

So I've been thinking a lot lately about the future of Rob's Vegas & Poker Blog.  Honestly, for a few days there, I was 100% certain I was going to end it. Yeah, I was really sure I was just gonna shut this down.  

You see....I put a lot of effort into this blog, not to mention my heart and soul.....and lately it seems like the "rewards" I've been getting in return just haven't been enough to justify all that work.  That's kind of what my two previous two posts were about....but I guess I was way too subtle for anyone to pick up on it.

But....well, I'm not actually having a change of heart yet, but I've backed away from "definitely done" and gone to "thinking about it some more." .  I guess I need more time before I figure out if I want to pull the plug or keep going full blast.

In the meantime, here's my latest column for Ante Up.  You can find it on their website here


VENETIAN: The Deep Stack Extravaganza at the Venetian runs through Nov. 25 as every event, other than satellites, offers a guarantee, totaling $23M in prize pools.The $1,600 main event, with three starting flights, begins Nov. 16 and has a $500K guarantee.
Most noon events are no-limit hold’em with multiple starting days and buy-ins between $250-$1,100.Omaha and PLO events run throughout the series at 4 p.m. for $250.Single-day bounty and survivor tournaments, with $200-$300 buy-ins, are evenings at 7.
ARIA: Sean McCormack is the new director of poker, moving over from the Bellagio, where he had been operations manager.He worked at Bellagio for nine years as a dealer, floor supervisor and shift manager.He got his start in poker in Florida and then worked as a traveling dealer before settling in Vegas. He’s originally from Salem, Mass.
The Aria continues to offer one of the most popular regular tournaments in Vegas, twice daily at 1 and 7 p.m. The $125 event has 30-minute levels and players start with a 10K stack. The 1 p.m. regularly attracts 120-150 players and the evening version usually nears the 100 mark.Periodically, the Aria schedules high-roller tournaments, which cost $25K.But if you want a deal, you can register before the starting time (usually 2 p.m.), the house will waive the $1K rake.
Aria spreads a wide variety of cash games. NLHE and PLO games are always available, both $1-$3 and $2-$5 for each.Bigger games usually can be found and big mixed games are almost always available.The room offers $2 per hour in comps ($3 per hour between 5-10 a.m.).
HARRAH’S: Danny Mack is the new special-games manager at the mid-Strip property.In addition to running the poker room, he’s in charge of keno and the sportsbook. Mack got his start in poker in Tunica, Miss., then worked at Mirage and Bellagio before spending some time managing a poker room in Bozeman, Mont.In 2008, he returned to Vegas to work as a dealer and shift manager at Caesars Palace and the WSOP.
Harrah’s offers a $5K freeroll that even tourists can enjoy.Ten hours of live play the week before qualifies for the tournament on Sundays at 1 p.m. Players who put in 20 hours get $100 upfront when they register for the freeroll. The top 10 finishers get $400 and the next five get $200.
Five tournaments run daily.At 9 a.m. and noon, there’s a $55 event with a $500 guarantee.At 3 and 7 p.m., it’s a $75 event with a $1K guarantee.On Fridays and Saturdays, the 7 p.m. becomes a $100 bounty tournament with the same guarantee. The bounties are $25.
There are high-hand bonuses for quads, straight flushes and royals.The room recently switched from 10-handed to nine-handed games. Players can charge their electronic devices from the table.
GOLDEN NUGGET: The Golden Weekend $50K guarantee is Nov. 28 (11 a.m., $140). Players start with 15K chips and 30-minute levels as registration and re-entry is allowed for the first eight levels.
There are a host of other tournaments throughout the weekend. See the ad on Page 9 of our November issue for more information.
WYNN: The room is adding a couple of new tournaments to the schedule.On the first Wednesday of each month, a $300 seniors tournament will replace the daily noon event.Players 50 and older will start with 12,500 chips and play 30-minute levels. There’s also a $100 add-on at the end of registration (fourth level) for 5K chips.The tournament offers a $12,500 guarantee.This will be the only regularly scheduled event specifically targeting the seniors demographic. Seniors events during Wynn Classic events have been quite popular.
On Thursday nights, there’s a new $120 PLO tournament at 5 p.m. This replaces the 7 p.m. bounty tournament.Players start with 10K chips with 30-minute levels.There are unlimited $100 rebuys through the first four levels for 10K chips, available whenever the player’s stack is less than 5K.There’s no rake on rebuts.
Players can add 5K chips for $50 one time during the first four levels. Here, the Wynn is hoping to cater the regular PLO player who, until now, doesn’t have a regular tournament to play in this discipline.The affordable buy-in is meant to encourage new players to give PLO a try.The rake-free rebuys should provide larger prize pools for the small buy-in.
ALIANTE: The new poker room featuring electronic tables in North Las Vegas has added a few tournaments.In addition to the $30 daily at 1 p.m., it offers $40 tournaments on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5.The tournament offers 20-minute levels and starts players with 5K chips.
MGM: Random seats are selected for cash drawings after every score during Sunday, Monday and Thursday night NFL games.Prizes vary between $100 and $500.
MONTE CARLO: Highest hand of the quarter receives cash during Sunday, Monday and Thursday night NFL games. The first quarter is worth $50, the second is $100, the third is $150 and the fourth quarter is $200.
EXCALIBUR: For Monday night NFL games, players earn one raffle ticket each hour on the hour beginning four hours before kickoff. Two tickets drawn at halftime are worth $50 each; one ticket is drawn at 9 p.m. for $50 and one ticket is drawn at 10 for $100.
Also, all active players in a cash games are eligible to have their seat drawn every time there’s a score. It’s $50 for a field goal, $100 for a touchdown and $200 for a safety.
BOULDER STATION: Players earn football squares for full houses in Omaha and NLHE.The squares are worth $50 each for the Sunday, Monday and Thursday night games.


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50 comments:

  1. NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

    I love reading your blog, even though I never comment. There must be more like me out there. Keep 'em coming, even if there is a lag between posts.

    JO in Maryland

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    1. Thanks, JO, very much appreciate your comment and the kind words.

      Delete
  2. Please keep it going pal. I again don't comment but really enjoy reading your blog. Keep the posts coming!! 👍👍
    Darran uk

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    1. Thanks, Darran. Appreciate the nice feedback.

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  3. Another lurker, love your blog, I think you write really well ( or is it good, I don't write)
    Hope you keep it going,
    LG Rochester

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    1. Thanks so much, LG. If I said I write good, that would mean I wasn't writing well! ("well" is correct).

      Delete
  4. Another reader/non-poster here. I actually read more for the non poker stuff. I like to read about all that is happening around Vegas and the poker rooms. While hand histories are good, hooker siteings are better,.

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    1. Thanks, Doufous....appreciate your response. Love your choice of a handle, "Doufous" huh? And I AM the hooker magnet.

      Delete
  5. Rob how are we going to keep up with the card rooms and the "Slut Parade" and most important of all the Boobie pictures. We need this column badly. Maybe you just need two weeks off to recharge your batteries. This is a very important decision and should not be taken lightly. Take some time off and think this over very carefully. What ever makes you happy.

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    1. Thanks, Ed, appreciate your support and kind words, as always. Believe me, whatever I decide, it will not be a decision I take lightly.

      Delete
  6. I'll pile on with the others. I've only commented a couple of times, but I read the blog regularly and get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

    I do understand that it takes a lot of time and energy to write the blog, and perhaps at times the rewards for your efforts aren't obvious. You have to make the decision that is right for you. Life is short, and all that.

    But from a selfish point of view, I really hope you choose to continue the blog! It's always an entertaining read.

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    1. Thanks Bruce, I appreciate it and I appreciate your "piling on." This is a very good kind of piling on!

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  7. There is a happy medium between "pulling the plug" and "keep going full blast". Post whenever you feel like it, without any predetermined frequency. Also, nothing wrong with short posts, like Crickets. Every post doesn't have to be a megillah.

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    1. Thanks, Mr. S. I realize I can post less, or do shorter posts. But honestly, that's not the way I want to do the blog. I like doing the long posts--or at least I did. Not really interested in doing tweet-sized posts....I've got Twitter for that. "Crickets" was a good post? Well, maybe I'll alternate pics of boobies with pics of insects? Hmm, that would be interesting. Maybe I'll do tsetse flies next. Tits, tsetses....

      Delete
  8. Rob, you are prolific and tell great stories. Since we have never meet I guess I don't feel comfortable commenting usually. I can understand your feeling a little tired by the process (I first found your blog thru AVP). I don't blame you if you want to slow down a bit. But hopefully you don't stop entirely. Will still be checking in on your Ante-Up column regularly.

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    1. Thanks, Anony.....but don't be shy...what was your name on AVP? Also, no reason to be inhibited commenting just because we haven't met, most of the people who comment are folks I haven't met face to face....in fact, after they comment, that sometimes has led to a face-to-face meeting.

      I do appreciate your support.

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    2. My user name on AVP is Swager. Will try and add my two cents next time. May only be worth one at the time.

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    3. Thanks "Swager" glad to meet you. One cent is more than most, so don't be afraid to be heard. I won't bite!

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  9. understand how u feel, i hardly ever get any ad revenue anymore either

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    1. Thanks, Tony. Additional ad revenue would certainly be nice, wouldn't it?

      Maybe I should start charging readers by the word?

      Delete
  10. Rob, I'm personally hoping you keep up this blog, even if you can't devote as much time to it in the future as you have previously.

    Would you be willing to consider keeping it going with a rotating series of guest bloggers? I would be happy to contribute an article every week or so about my adventures at Hawaiian Gardens Casino, Pechanga and in Laughlin, and I'd bet others here would love to share their stories as well from time to time.

    Hope you'll give this idea some thought. In the meantime, I also hope you'll keep on keepin' on. Too many other poker blogs I've really enjoyed have gone away, the Poker Dealer blog and Josie's in particular, and Poker Grump is still enjoyable but just not the same since Rakewell got hitched and moved to the East Coast. Would far rather you stick around and just post less often, rather than not at all. :-)

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    1. Thanks very much, Steve, appreciate your support and your offer.

      I hope that over the years, I've made it very clear I am open to guest blog posts, and I've run a few. They have always been welcome. If I continue, I would certainly welcome your posts as often as you able.

      BTW, Grump has not gotten hitched, not that I'm aware, but he is living close to his girlfriend. And is now just a recreational poker player, but a very very good one.

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. See previous post...enough boobies for the rest of the year.

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  12. Hey Rob. Occasional posts are better than none at all. I have to admit though, when I check and there isn't a new post, I'm disappointed. Take some time off, and/or link to other posts/articles you find interesting to save your energy...just don't stop altogether please.

    Kenny the Snake

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    1. Thanks very much, Kenny. I appreciate your support.

      Love the name. Did you take it as an homage to Kenny "the snake" Stabler? He was one of my late father's all-time favorite quarterbacks, When he died recently, it made me think of my father.

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    2. Rob, I got this nickname at the weekly home game many years ago. Yes it's a homage to #12, as well as a reference to my slow playing persona.

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    3. Cool, thanks for the explanation. He was a damn fine QB.

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  13. Rob, You are a keen observer of the human poker condition so your blog would be sorely missed. However I also understand burnout all too well. I truly hope you will come to s clear decision of what is best for you.
    Dave

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    1. Thank you Dave. I have to admit, being referred to you by you as a "keen observer of the human poker condition" is one of the best compliments I've ever gotten. Awesome. I appreciate your support and it was great bumping into to you a few weeks ago. Wish the session had been better for me tho.

      Delete
  14. What rewards were you seeking? You got the Ante Up gig, you've met a lot of people that you probably wouldn't have otherwise... I definitely share the mindset of the "post when you want" commentors. Sometimes I feel like writing, sometimes I don't, and sometimes I'm just too busy. No need to kill it...

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    1. Thanks, Coach. As I said to Mr. S, I really like posting regularly. I want to feel eager to write so I can have something new up here three times a week. Almost rather stop it totally than just do a post a week....but I want to want to post regularly, you know?

      As for rewards....I'm getting a lot of rewards for this post, so that's very cool.

      Delete
  15. Hide where u are playing. I hear that increases interest. Or get banned from the BSC poker room to liven things up a bit. Start posting sockroll updates?

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  16. No more boobs? Life wouldn't be worth living without boobs.

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    1. Well I certainly agree with that sentiment.

      But fear not Anony....if I do decide to stop posting, I will leave detailed instruction on how to find boobs on the internet with this new thing called "Google."

      Delete
  17. I guess all good things must eventually come to an end, but I do hope you keep it going for a while. Being so far away from Vegas, I depend on you and the Trooper for my fix until I can get back home. Perhaps you should consider writing a book? I have to believe you've got enough poker/hooker/SheSaid stories to fill one. Plus you've definitely go the writing chops.

    I see the threat of a boobage shut-down has even brought Anger out of the woodwork!

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    1. Thanks, DWP. A book, huh...well....yeah, I've thought about that actually.

      Yes, I got Anger's attention...to complain about the lack of boobs in this post!

      Appreciate your support.

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  18. Rob, thanks for all of your hard work keeping this blog going so far. I am another one who always looks forward to reading it, especially the long and detailed posts. Your recent one on your journey to Vegas was especially good. Hope you find the energy to keep up the fantastic work and hope to see you in Vegas again soon.
    Paul

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    1. Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate your kind words and all the support over the years.

      So I just need to do longer posts, huh? OK, but I won't try to get any more stories out of having to find a bathroom.

      Delete
    2. I too enjoy the style of your re-caps. Keep it going if you can. If not try a sabbatical, and come back refreshed!

      Delete
    3. Thanks very much norm, appreciate the support.

      Delete
  19. Rob, I have been reading your blog for several years now and thoroughly enjoy it. I only make it to Vegas once, maybe twice a year, so reading your blog helps get me through the non-Vegas dry spells. The silent masses do appreciate what you do!! ,

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    1. Thanks, very much, Anony, for the encourage words and the support.

      Delete
  20. Rob

    Personally, I do not think that slowing down a bit would be a bad idea at all. When you feel less obligated to post I would guess that the process of writing becomes a little more fun and a little less like work

    During college football, I post a prediction thread once a week. I've been doing this ever since I really got online in the late 1990s and it's built a bit of a following I guess. What's amazing is, some weeks I won't get much of a response at all and during those times it's very common for me to think "why am I writing this to an audience of air". Then, like this week I get two or three people that just respond and say "hey man, I really enjoy reading this every week." It's amazing how much those comments make me willing to keep putting in the work. So what I'm trying to say is "hey man I enjoy reading this every week"

    Best,
    Dan

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    1. Thanks, Dan....I love the story of the football predictions, and I can sure relate.

      Delete
  21. Rob,

    Keep it up- writing this from Antigua while on vacation and just like at work, reading your blog makes me smile.

    Keep up the good work.

    JPPhilly

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    1. Wow,thanks so much for the kind words, JP. Really appreciate it.

      Enjoy your vacation.

      Working on the new blog post right now, hope you'll like it.

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