This thread is for general discussion/chat about the Planet Hollywood Poker Room.

I plan on being here to try to play the first hand in the new room. I'm excited after seeing what I saw and taking some pics the other day and posting them.

Thanks for the pics photoc, looks like a spacious room w/ decent spacing between tables.
Is the buy-in the same for the tournies? Great to hear they upped the chipstacks, sounds like they're off to a good start.

Yep, check out the tourney listing on the main site. Tommy (room mgr) said they could easily fit 16 tables in here with the amount of extra room and still be comfortable to move around in. There was a TON of space in there. They are going to 13 tables soon, maybe higher if need be.

Thanks for the info. I will be staying there starting tomorrow through Saturday. I am excited to play some 1/2 nl and a few cash games.

Why wouldn't at least a limited number of tables in a new room have autoshufflers? Wouldn't the rake on the additional hands played cover the cost of a more expensive table with autoshufflers? How much more does such a table cost?

The shufflers are over 15k to purchase. They can be leased for an unknown figure, but it's said to be quite high (4 figures +). They are seeing how business goes and then deciding if they get them.

In all honesty, shufflers are for lumps who can't deal/shuffle cards properly and maybe add 1 hand per hour. They are not a deal breaker like everyone is assuming they are. I personally could care less if tables have them or not. I just want to play cards! I did get a few text messages from players I know and they all said the room is awesome and they were up there playing a little bit tonight. I might head back up there for kicks!

I do not want to turn this into an autoshuffler debate (and will probably start a new thread regarding this instead), but let me say here as to why I like them.

I like them for the exact reasons Photoc said. However, I wouldn't go so far as to call them lumps. Most dealers are not fast. Some are quick, some are lightening fast, but most are average to a little slow.

I completely disagree with it adding only 1 hand per hour. From my off the cuff experiences, where I actually counted the hands, I see that fogure being closer to 6-8 hands added per hour. May not seem like a lot, but it is certainly more then one.

Anyway, that is not the point. Aladdin is one of only two mega resorts with a poker room that doesn't have autoshufflers (and Paris is only 3/4 of a poker room at best), AFAIK. By choosing to skimp on them, they are choosing cut a proverbial corner in a very competitive and cutthroat market.

Also, this is as good a thread as any to reiterate that the $50 min $200 max game should have a $100 min/$300 max like almost every other poker room on the Strip. It is being distinctive in this, and personally do not feel it is a good thing (this topic is discussed ad nauseum in the other PH thread in the Poker News section of AVP).

However, despite all this, I wish them the best, and hope that the action available will far outweigh any of my admittingly pessimistic reasons for dislike.

At least I didn't mention the issues I have with their parking (and no, Photoc, I don't need to hear how I should valet at Paris and walk over).

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I liked their old room when it was tucked away by the high limit slots; didn't mind the location outside PF Changs since it was still close to the bathrooms and not too smoky; never played when the room was upstairs, but the new space looks terrific. Their dealers have always been friendly, and competent (maybe because they have to shuffle all the time )

Now I know that I'll play at least a tourney or two there, when I'm out in two weeks, because of the higher starting chip stack. Helps to make up for the 20 minute rounds.

Photoc, thanks for the update on what the autoshufflers cost ($15K). At least I can now understand their reasoning even if I do think it is short-sighted not to start with at least 4 such tables.