Heartland Poker Tour : What's Your Strategy? [Archive] - Denver Poker Forums

timetogonow

09-29-2007, 01:42 PM

I live on west slope, so I will go up on the 11th and play STT for $75 (2 winners) and try and win a Qualifer or two. I have played at the WSOP the last two years and have earned free rolls into two events (1500 & 2000) by playing STT and building 500 buy in tokens. Last year I won about $3500 in $500 chips for about $700. I have found the players at STT qualifiers in Vegas (at WSOP and Venetian) to be overall very weak. Many players get in way to big a hurry. Expecting similar weak field at Golden Gates.

Do you know if one can sell extra qualifier chips HPT events?

Good luck.

PoWdA

09-29-2007, 02:51 PM

<-- will play the qualifiers but if I have to I will buy the 340...

Mondogarage

09-29-2007, 03:13 PM

Unavailable to play the main event now, so I can't really see myself trying to qualify for a qualifier. Would be nice to see a DPer ship the $100k in the end, though.

scrupboy

10-01-2007, 02:06 PM

I'll probably play three qualifiers, but I'll buy into the $340 if I must. Hoping to qualify a couple times and possibly sell a seat. Main event here I come!

Good luck All.

PoWdA

10-01-2007, 08:01 PM

<--- played a $75 today and got my 340 buy in :)

<-- is good to go.....

PoWdA

10-01-2007, 10:21 PM

Oha few tips for anyone planning on going up.

1) Get up there EARLY. I am not saying 30 minutes I am saying an hour to 2 hours minimum. It was PACKED and there were people waiting FOREVER for thier sattelites to open up. The gates only has so many tables.

2) Don't play the $40 tourneys!!! They are not a good gamble!!!! If you want to take a serious shot play the $75 sats. the $75 at nearly twice the price is incredibly easier to win at. Both are 1 table sattelites but the $75 gives out 2 seats while the $40 only gives out 1 with the same structures, the $75 is clearly the better choice and ghe better buy.

3) if you accumulate a big stack don't tangle with the other big stack(s). I put big stack because there are so few chips in play, and such fast escalating blinds, that if you can manage to control a decent amount of the chips at the table that will leave everyone else in the tourney in a tough, short stacked position throughout the tourney and will allow you to play off thier mistakes and desperation moves rather than you being in thier shoes and constantly having to risk your stack. Don't tangle with the other chip leaders, let the little guys wear eachother out and pop em on the head when they try to peek up and you have a hand.

4) these tourneys are turbulent. you have to get lucky and be prepared to buy in more than once and don't be discouraged if you can't win one right away.

ctswpt76

10-02-2007, 09:45 AM

Thanks Powda!
I was gonna ask you some more details, but you answered them already! :)

So with people winning the $340 sats will it be hard for someone to buy in directly??? I want to play at least one $340 if not two........

And I will be willing to get there 8 hours EARLY for the entry, as I don't want to miss out on this one.

Any suggestions?

Thanks man!
cts

scrupboy

10-02-2007, 03:52 PM

Nice job PoWdA!

Guess I better leave work early this week. I was thinking of playing on Thursday night and possibly the weekend if needed.

How many tables were they running? I noticed that they added another qualifier on Sunday night. Last time I was there they had 14 tables and I thought that they might try to pack in a few more tables if they could find the room.

Thanks for the information and I hope to see some of you out there.

-Scrupboy

PoWdA

10-02-2007, 06:34 PM

i am pretty sure they had 14 tables going and i believe only 3 of them were cash games by the time I left with the rest being satelites.

Also it was opening night so it could be a totally different story today but the weekends will probobly be a zoo.... maybe even as bad as yesterday.

here is what it looked like before I left... I know it's a bad pic but you should get the point... Also This was right after Joey got on the mike and say "if you aren't in a tournament or cash game get out of my poker room." Also I got yelled at for taking pics so don't try it ;)

http://a398.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/27/l_94122af49b8248092e27f064f2232fad.jpg

ctswpt76

10-03-2007, 11:38 AM

Ok guys,
I'm heading up today. I'm wearing a brown Guinness shirt, so say hi if you see me. :)
Good luck up there,
cts

PoWdA

10-03-2007, 04:29 PM

Also another big thing (in my opinion) is that the seats ARE COMPLETELY TRANSFERABLE meaning I could qualify for a $1700 seat and sell it totally legally.

For me, if I wasn't working so much, I would literally make a part time job out of winning and selling these things. I am already going to try and win more than one $1700 seat with the limited time I have to play just so I can sell it to someone who couldn't qualify and turn profit before the tourney begins. (I am also crossing my fingers hoping I can get enve one ME seat considering I have no time to play)

I strongly suggest to anyone that has the time, skill, confidence, to do this to in fact DO THIS and take advantage of the situation. They practiacally encourage selling your seats as on your certificate there are 2 lines just for you to sign if you decide to sell the seat. Also I am pretty sure there will be people who would love to be able to do a straight buy-in so selling the seats should not be an issue.

<--- wishes he had more time to be up the hill lately, it's a gold mine up there.

ctswpt76

10-03-2007, 07:13 PM

GOT ONE!!!! :)
Yes! I finished in a $75 sat for the cert! :) And won $40 in the cash game, so my $340 seat has cost me $35 total. Sweeeeeet.!!!!!!

A few updates: POWDA PAY ATTENTION TO THIS:

Not only can you sell the certs you win, but if you get 5 they will enter you into the ME straight out!!!!! No need for the $340 tourny that way!!!!!

I got in line at 1:35p for the 2pm registration start and was first in line.

Also, you can buy into any of the $340 tourny's RIGHT NOW, so I would highly recommend getting up there sooner rather than later to at least buy in.

And like Powda said, the $75 one is the way to go.

So I don't think I'll try for the 5 $340 certs......but I signed up for the Monday tourny at 6:30

Hope to see some people there!!!!
TTYS
cts

PoWdA

10-03-2007, 07:35 PM

AWESOME and nice work...

<- still wants to try 2 340's wether I qualify the first time or not.

scrupboy

10-04-2007, 12:48 PM

I planned on going today, but just found out my daughter will be in the Golden High Homecoming Parade. This means I won't even be able to get there until after 7:00PM. Will it be worth the drive at that time? What type of waits should I expect?

I don't have the time either to get into too many qualifiers, but I would definitely try to qualify for more than one main event seat. I worried that I would not be able to sell the seat if I won more than one, but it sounds like that is probably not an issue. Guess I better worry about getting ONE first.

Well if anyone is up there tonight..... late, come say hi. I'm the Asian guy with black hair. Alright, you may need a little more information then that. My name is Son and some of you might already know me. I'll probably be wearing a brown dress shirt and I have hoop earrings in each ear.

Good luck all!

PoWdA

10-04-2007, 06:08 PM

I planned on going today, but just found out my daughter will be in the Golden High Homecoming Parade.

I might be there as my girlfriend is a photographer for the golden transcript and she will be there taking pics and asked me to go. I have to deal a game @ 7 so I might not make it but if you see a pair of photographers running around one might be me!

ctswpt76

10-04-2007, 10:27 PM

Actually I was thinking about it today, and I actually think watching Poker After Dark helped my sit 'n go game yesterday.

So if you're planning on heading up the GG, might want to watch a few episodes before you go. :)

And some of the play I saw in the 9 other players was pretty weak....I couldn't believe they would throw down $75 and not know how to play the "satellite" type game properly.....but all the better for us fanatics! ;)

If anyone is playing the Monday 6:30p game, let me know, I'll be there early. :)

Good luck everyone,
cts

takeittothehouse

10-05-2007, 09:35 AM

Two certificates in three satellites! When is everyone playing next week?

Going off what PoWdA said, there are people up there that are playing all day everyday trying to accumulate certificates to sell. There’s speculation that some pros are coming out for the main even and will just buy a qualifying certificate into the main event (so the 340 qualifying certificate) for 2,500 plus. Looked on Craigslist and eBay, but nothing listed….

scrupboy

10-05-2007, 11:09 AM

I might be there as my girlfriend is a photographer for the golden transcript and she will be there taking pics and asked me to go. I have to deal a game @ 7 so I might not make it but if you see a pair of photographers running around one might be me!

Didn't get this message until after I had left work for the day. Too bad, I would of looked for you.

My satellites didn't go too well last night. Got up there about 8:30 and was able to play two of the $75 satellites. First one I built up about 4000 in chips pretty early, but couldn't get anyone out. I was the aggressor and we had only lost 1 person by the time we hit the 300/600 round. Went out in 4th after by Q's got busted by 9/10. Next satellite came in third. Nothing to say here except, third sucks!

Luckily the limit games seemed to be full of non regulars and I was able to pull $300 off a 2-5 table. Closed the casino out and now at the office. I'll be back tonight for another go at a couple satellites.

Spoke with some of them that are accumulating certificates to sell and they've been doing well. I also heard the rumor of being able to sell main event seats for $2500. Damn I need more time.

I'll be spending most of the weekend up there and most likely buy into Sunday night if I don't satellite. Hopefully they haven't sold this session out yet.

-Scrupboy

ctswpt76

10-05-2007, 03:40 PM

I think it would be cool if Paul Wasicka came out to represent the "Pro's" from Boulder. :)

I'm actually close friends with two families that know his family, wish I could meet up with him and talk poker!.... 8)

pseudoswede

10-05-2007, 05:28 PM

I heard that Jamal got all of his 5 certificates on Monday.

Why am I not surprised! :lol:

GATOR77

10-07-2007, 01:01 PM

Anyone headed up there today (SUNDAY)? I will be there for the 5:00 S&G's wearing my blue University of Florida shirt. Yes even though they lost a tough one to LSU yesterday my handle will always be GATOR77.

Say hi if you are there.

Thanks

takeittothehouse

10-08-2007, 10:15 AM

FYI... I heard that the 340 satalite tourney seats are limited in number - that they will award more certs than spots. If you have a cert for the 340 tourney, get up there and sign up ASAP. First come first serve they say....

scrupboy

10-08-2007, 11:01 AM

I finally won a satellite on Saturday and signed up for the Sunday tournament. Unfortunately, busted out in 36 after nearly 5 hours of play. They had 150 entries and top 30 received the ME seats.

I would suggest building chips early as the blind structure becomes very aggressive after the second break. At the start of the 7th round we had about 9 tables left and by the beginning of the 9th round there was 4 tables remaining. Watch out for the big jump in blinds during the 8th round (500/1000, 100 ante to 1000/2000, 200 ante). This is the survival round when the short stacks start falling off.

I made one mistake early, but otherwise played nearly perfect poker. Built up a nice stack, but went card dead for three rounds.

The tournament ran pretty well. Since this was the first qualifier, they did get off to a late start and sign up was somewhat of a mess. I believe this will get worked out and tonight's qualifier should run a bit more smoothly.

Jamal has 13 certs and was still playing satellites when I left! It's rumored that he's already sold one ME seat for $2500.

idh78

10-08-2007, 11:33 AM

Jamal has 13 certs and was still playing satellites when I left! It's rumored that he's already sold one ME seat for $2500.

Good lord, this funny, but not at all surprising...

Bruno

10-08-2007, 06:33 PM

Good lord, this funny, but not at all surprising...

Guess not! Jamal and I go back a few years, and have chopped a tourney and finished in the top three a couple of times. He's a substantially better player then the average player who plays in tourneys up there.

Regarding 'takeittothehouse'es comment: if you win a satellite into the $340 qualifier, you have to register for the $340 qualifier you want to play in. If that one is sold out, you'll have to register for a different one that isn't. They are capping the qualifiers at 150 people. If you win a cert to the qualifier and they are sold out, you will be forced to play in one of the single table $340 satellites for entry into the ME. I would suggest that you register for the one you want to play in quickly. I was #51 for the Wednesday noon $340, and I registered on Sunday morning.

I spoke at length with the Poker Room Mgr, and from his information I believe they will sell out all 9 $340 qualifiers, with the last one or two having a horde of people trying to register to get into them at the last minute. Avoid that mess.....

$2500 for the ~ $1500 ME....nice overlay.....

Bruno

PoWdA

10-08-2007, 09:57 PM

Like Bruno said... if you plan on playing a $340 get up there and register for one NOW!!! I went up today planning on playing the $340 @ 6:30, I got there at 4:30, and it appearently had been sold out for some time and they were registering for tomorrows $340.

If you wish to play in this tournament you need to get up there tomorrow and get signed up before everything is full!!! they are pretty much backed up by a full day and I don't think it is going to get better. i think there are going to be HUGE problems when 100's of people come pouring in on friday night before the tourney and there are only 150 seats. Get up there quick if you wanna play!

takeittothehouse

10-09-2007, 09:29 AM

Qualified for the ME last night!!! Losing the last 4 was brutal and took almost an hour! Whew!!! :D

idh78

10-09-2007, 10:15 AM

Qualified for the ME last night!!! Losing the last 4 was brutal and took almost an hour! Whew!!! :D

Well done!

ctswpt76

10-09-2007, 10:54 AM

Alright, here's my update:
Last night was a ZOO up there. They were sold out for Tuesday by ~7pm last night.
I busted out of the $340 around 90th....and actually I played so well that I lost.......... :( Two hands where I had money invested in the pot, I laid down with only 2 outs and BOTH times they hit after I folded.....it was sick... I know I can't be results oriented but I would have had a huge stack had I called the all-ins. Instead I never made it over the 10K starting stack and was short the whole time...............

So much for "playing great poker" like Hellmuth always says.... ;)

Anyway, I busted out and bought into tomorrow's noon $340, so one last chance for me to get in.......

Here are my results so far:
1 for 2 on $75 sats
0 for 1 on $340s......

Good luck all
cts

takeittothehouse

10-09-2007, 12:25 PM

Like Bruno said... if you plan on playing a $340 get up there and register for one NOW!!! I went up today planning on playing the $340 @ 6:30, I got there at 4:30, and it appearently had been sold out for some time and they were registering for tomorrows $340.

PoWdA,

When are you signed up to play in the 340 now? We'll be playing Wednesday and Thursday nights as well.

timetogonow

10-09-2007, 02:08 PM

scrupboy

10-09-2007, 02:23 PM

Nice job on getting your seat takeittothehouse!

I'm debating on buying into one of the last chance tourneys or tying another qualifier. Does any one know how many last chance seats into the ME they will allow? I would be bummed to show up and not get a chance at trying to qualify through this method. Perhaps I should go and sign up for another qualifier tonight.

Well another way would be to just buy an entry from someone. Found this on Craigslist: http://denver.craigslist.org/spo/443946522.html

ctswpt76

10-09-2007, 02:43 PM

Anyone know how long the wait is for the $75 STT once you show up and get your name on a lsit?

About how many are playing in the $340 sats? Are they maxing out each night? Have to show up way early?

Thanks;)

I waited 2 hours to get into my STT last night. They ARE maxing out the $340s every night and day at 150 players. And YES show up at least the DAY BEFORE the event you want to play in. Wednesday is probably already sold out now.....

Also show up at least an HOUR before the $340 even that you're playing in to make sure you get to play.....

Like I said earlier, it is insane up there.....
cts

scrupboy

10-09-2007, 02:46 PM

I waited 2 hours to get into my STT last night. They ARE maxing out the $340s every night and day at 150 players. And YES show up at least the DAY BEFORE the event you want to play in. Wednesday is probably already sold out now.....

As of last night they were sold out for the Tuesday and Wednesday night qualifiers.

PoWdA

10-09-2007, 04:19 PM

PoWdA,

When are you signed up to play in the 340 now? We'll be playing Wednesday and Thursday nights as well.
<---- is playing tonight.. If I bust ai am going to try a few more $80 sats tomorrow or tonight and try and get registered in another $340.

takeittothehouse

10-09-2007, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the congrats everyone!

Something else they told me last night... you can not use your 340 qualifying certificate to play in the 340 +10 single table qualifiers. The reason being is that you can not combine certificates and cash. So no cert + 10 cash. No 4 certs and one 340 buy in for the 5 total to get into the main event.

I think there are going to be a lot of pissed off people with unusable certs.

takeittothehouse

10-09-2007, 04:41 PM

<---- is playing tonight.. If I bust ai am going to try a few more $80 sats tomorrow or tonight and try and get registered in another $340.

Good Luck tonight!

Bruno

10-09-2007, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the congrats everyone!.
Let me add to it: CONGRATS BUD!!! Hope to see you at the final table of the main event.

Something else they told me last night... you can not use your 340 qualifying certificate to play in the 340 +10 single table qualifiers. The reason being is that you can not combine certificates and cash. So no cert + 10 cash. No 4 certs and one 340 buy in for the 5 total to get into the main event.

I think there are going to be a lot of pissed off people with unusable certs.
Whoa!!!! There ought to be!!! The Colorado Gaming Commission just CANNOT let the casino walk away with the windfall from all the certificates that have no event to play in because the casino "oversold". This just cannot be allowed to happen, and I doubt they will let this happen. The casion would have to reimburse the people for the certificates, unless the casino had each person sign something to the effect of "if you are unable to use the certificate for any reason (including the casino's fault), there is no cash value and the casino gets to retain the money.

If HPT has been letting casino's due something like oversell, and putting the oversold monies into their prize pools to inflate them, I haven't heard about it. And I think I would have through 2+2 and RGP, or some of the poker people I know. Golden Gates could have a legal nightmare if they haven't a plan to reimburse the people they've oversold to..... Are they really going to **** this up?

PoWdA

10-10-2007, 02:43 AM

<--- won his ME seat :D

I really wish it was the ME as I had the chip lead at the end and for quite a while before the end. The sat was fun and I got my seat!!! I am flight B (5PM sat.)

Also everyone, I am almost positive the $340 CASH BUY-IN qualifiers are SOLD OUT except POSSIBLY a few for thursday at noon. If you have won a cert from a $40 or $80 satelite you can still play friday night or friday day or thursday night I THINK. If you have a cert, get up there and register TOMORROW AT THE LATEST.

WOOT!!!

dexman1349

10-10-2007, 09:12 AM

<--- won his ME seat :D

WOOT!!!

Congrats to you and all of the other winners!! Good luck in the ME!

<-- wishes he had the time and more importantly the money to play...:(

takeittothehouse

10-10-2007, 09:20 AM

<--- won his ME seat :D

Congrats PoWdA!!!!

scrupboy

10-10-2007, 11:02 AM

<--- won his ME seat :D

Very nice! WTG!

scrupboy

10-10-2007, 12:55 PM

It looks like they are almost sold out. Found the following on the Heartland Poker Tour website indicating that they have 38 ME seats available.

ATTENTION:
The Golden Gates Event in Black Hawk is nearly SOLD OUT!!
Only a handfull of Qualifier seats remain and will go quickly.

Last Chance Satellites:
There are 38 seats remaining into the Main Event. These seats will be awarded through Single Table ($340 two players advance) Satellites. These last chance satellites will run Wednesday through Friday at 8:00pm or until they sell out. Must be present to enter.

I don't know how true this would be due to people using 5 certs to get an ME seat.

loomisdl

10-10-2007, 03:38 PM

Wow. This is going to be really great for the people that won certificates and find out that they can't use them.

takeittothehouse

10-11-2007, 10:06 AM

Got number 2 last night and am playing again tonight. Going for the tri-fecta!!! :D

They did have 160 players last night and took top 32. May be one way they're dealing with extra certs...

scrupboy

10-11-2007, 11:50 AM

Got number 2 last night and am playing again tonight. Going for the tri-fecta!!! :D

Nice! Good luck tonight and save some for the rest of us!:D

They did have 160 players last night and took top 32. May be one way they're dealing with extra certs...

How did they fit 160 in the room? Did they have alternates?

takeittothehouse

10-11-2007, 12:22 PM

How did they fit 160 in the room? Did they have alternates?

They had 14 tables of 11 and 6 alternates. Pretty crappy if you went out 35th or so because you did beat out enough people, but better than them not letting people use certificates.

Looks like the Main Event seats are listed on Craigslist for 3k plus... interesting.

PoWdA

10-11-2007, 03:56 PM

very nice work!!!

Man I wish I had more time or I would more than likely be selling a few seats.

idrinkcoors

10-11-2007, 06:08 PM

Anybody have any certificates into the $340 for sale? I wanted to play on Friday, (either time), and was told they are sold out, but I can play if I buy a certificate.

thanks.

PoWdA

10-11-2007, 06:30 PM

I am pretty sure if you want to play friday you would have to buy the cert from someone who already registered to play friday. If I were you I would get up there a few hours before one of the tourneys and see if anyone is running around trying to sell one. Just make sure they are already registered for the friday or make sure you don't have to already be registered to play friday.

my god i almost want to go up there on friday just so i can see the mayhem instead of jsut hearing about it.