Originally Posted by
verminaard
Just saw this thread. I have only played at Hustler since March 1st, so I cannot independently confirm, but from what I am told HG, Commerce and the Bike planned this move together. For now, Hustler (and Hollywood Park) are still doing the free food thing to top section. Hustler even gives free food from a special menu (with less options) to the 8-16 players.
I have been playing at Hustler for several years, almost exclusively 25-50, including through the 50-100 period, which actually lasted for over a good year. I wanna say it lasted for a couple years, but maybe not. I will ask a floorman next time I go to Hustler and find out.
Hustler, unlike Commerce, is actually pretty good about reducing the rake during short handed play, taking $1/hand for 4 handed, $2/hand for 5, and $3/hand for 6 (this includes jackpot and isn't great, but a lot better than Commerce).
It was always too big and out of my comfort zone for it to be my main game, but I played the 50-100 maybe 20 times total when the games were good and I was running good. I don't remember the rake vs collection thing being a big issue. I don't remember ever seeing Druff in this game, but I do remember seeing Druff (and Neverwin) playing 100-200 and higher at Commerce during this time period. The 50-100 might actually have been too small for Druff during this time.
I think what happened is what happened to limit poker in general. When the online games dried up, all the good online limit players moved to Los Angeles to play live and the pro/fish ratio got too skewed. The fish (and recreational guys like me who weren't pros but could beat a soft lineup) lost too much money and stopped playing and/or dropped down. The Hustler 50-100 was basically supported by a very small pool of fish, and a lot of good players who would only play if a mark or two was in the game. Eventually the fish ran out of money and dropped down or quit playing, and that was that. I doubt if a time charge would have mattered all that much.
I am friendly with a couple of the pros who used to play that game everyday. I will ask them what they think next time I see them and ask them if the rake vs time charge was a big deal.
FWIW, the $60-120 rarely goes anymore. Basically it is the same dynamic at Commerce I stated above for the Hustler 50-100. There is ~25 good players in the top section on any given day who are more than willing to play 60-120, but will only play if a couple fish are in the game and the game will break the second the fish quit, so the game will sporadically start up around a couple fish and break as soon as they are done.
I honestly believe if there were less very good limit holdem pros in So Cal the mid and high limit games would be thriving more, because the regs, both fish and decent playing recreational players, will lose their money a lot slower and have more winning sessions. But I can't blame the pros too much. What else are they gonna do? There really is no consistent high limit limit holdem pretty much anywhere else in the world other than Commerce Casino anymore.
