We came out to play at Northville Downs on a Sunday for the $10 Cheap Seats Tournament. The tournament started at 7pm on the dot with 18 players. Before the break, we added in 3-4 alternates as players busted out and didn’t rebuy to create a really nice prize pool. The top 3 players were paid in a tournament that wrapped up about three and a half hours.
Two charities host each night at Northville.
One thing to note about Northville Downs – especially if you are a high stakes Omaha or Round by Round player. Northville Downs runs a $2/$5 Round by Round table every Thursday and Saturday. The room managers tell me that they run this game around 80% of the time on both nights. If you are looking for some Round by Round action – mark your calendar and call ahead to see if the games are running.
Games: 5+ of 5 chips
If you are looking for cash game action – this is the place. There are always at least one $1/$2 table going, usually more.
This is one location that regularly runs a $2/$5 table, and offers a Round by Round game every Thursday and Saturday. Actually, Northville will run round by round when ever they have enough players to open a table. There is a regular crowd of players who do play every Thursday and Saturday. From time to time this game will pop up on a Wednesday. Call ahead to see if the game is running. 248-912-5108
Blackjack is coming soon.
Tournaments: 5 of 5 Chips
From $5 rebuy tournaments to $60 deep stacks, Northville Downs offers a wide variety of tournaments for all types of players. The Thursday $40 Deep Stack and Saturday $60 Freeze Out are very heavily attended. It’s not unusual to be playing with over 100 players. These tournaments offer some really great prize pools!
With 15 or 20 minute blinds, with levels that increase at a reasonable pace. Tournament director software displayed on a flat screen keeps everyone in the know. The tournament director also announces time left in the level as well as the blinds at the next level.
Rules are reviewed before the cards fly. The rules are clear, concise and consistantly enforced. The dealers are fast and accurate, keeping the action moving, and working hard to get split pots divided up correctly. The tournament director also works hard to make sure all the dealers use the same methods to divide pots and give chip-change back to players.
Atmosphere: 5 of 5 Chips
Every time I’ve come into this poker room, one of the room managers has greeted me before I’ve reached the counter to buy chips. I know – it’s a small detail – but it’s really nice to be greeted and offered a chance to as questions. The poker room managers know if seats are available, approximately how many tournament players have signed up, and if a higher stakes cash game will run soon.
This is a non-smoking poker room. Smokers need to step outside to do their thing. The poker room just got a face-lift with new carpet & chairs. A snack bar is in the poker room offering sandwiches and beverages. The room is neat, clean and well lit.
You can also bet on the simulcast horse races while you are playing! Screens with horse racing results are visible from the poker room.
Equipment: 4 of 5 Chips
Equipment at Northville Downs is very nice! All the tables are custom felted with Aces Gaming felt. The tournament and cash chips are custom stamped. Cup holders are provided to keep your drink from sitting on the felt and/or tipping over, they are not built into the tables. The new chairs are really nice & cushy for your tushy. Down one chip because of the fold-up legs on the tables.
Staff: 5 of 5 Chips
Marcy, Mark, Kyle and the rest of the Northville Downs crew do a really great job making you feel welcome at their poker room. The dealers at the cash tables are lightning fast, friendly and accurate. They work hard to keep the action moving and get the pots split and awarded correctly. The dealers are all in white polos so you can find them among the players. The dealers rotate frequently to keep everyone rested and fresh.
No waitstaff, though snacks and beverages are only a very short walk.
Signing up early for this event was a must. If you’re planning on playing in the 5/22 $1000 WSOP Circuit Event, or the 5/30 $1500 WSOP Circuit Event Qualifiers - sign up online to reserve your seat. (Register Here!) The volunteers for Friends of Chrystal had a list of all the pre-registered participants, checked my ID and got my seat ticket to me.
Upon arrival on Sunday, Joe Cada was signing autographs and having photos taken with fans. I got my “Card Player” and “Bluff” magazines signed, and got a photo taken:
Joe Cada and Michele Ingalls
Huge props to Joe Cada. He greeted each fan with smiles and listened attentively to advice, admiration and bad beat stories. I didn’t get to sit at his table – would have *loved* to watch him play.
All the dealers were seated at the tables early, checking chips and cards to make sure everything was ready to go on time. Blinds were on the big screen, as well as printed on slips at each table. Players were seated by the 2pm start time. With a quick rules review, and an intro by Joe Cada, the cards were flying by 2:10pm. 15,000 start chips, 25/50 starting blinds, 30 minute levels. First break after level 3. No rebuys, no add-ons. This event was completely sold out with 14 alternates seated as players busted out.
With long blinds and lots of starting chips, players had plenty of time to wait for premium cards, or try to make some early moves. I took a few shots of the crowd before the cards started flying – check them out!
Tournament Start
Aaron was the dealer at my table. I swear, he lives in an alternate universe where time moves in super-fast-forward. It was amazing to watch him work. With Matrix-like precision, he dealt every card to exactly the right spot, moving the action along swiftly, splitting pots and awarding chips faster than Neo. Aaron didn’t even have to look to see if blinds were posted. He psychically *knew* if the small blind wasn’t on the table. Cards were washed between each hand, and the guy still got in a record number of hands in the first hour. Loved Aaron’s red-orange mohawk too!
I wish I could say my play was as brilliant as Aaron’s dealing. The players at my table couldn’t be raised out pre-flop with a 3 or 4 times the big blind bet. I got my 9-9 clobbered by a rivered flush early on. The guy called with a suited 10-7! Raised a couple other premium hands only to be called by 3 or 4 players and come up empty on the flop facing huge raises. This table punished drawing hands. Decided to change up my play and just limp in to see some more flops.
Cash Tables at Northville Downs
While the TV cameras were at our table, I woke up with Q-Q in good position. Raised pot with 4-5 other players. Tree blanks on the flop, action checked around to me with a 2000-3000 chips pot. I put in a good raise and everyone folded. Just wish the cameras would have stayed at our table a while longer so I could win a couple more hands! Check it out – the beginning of that hand made it on the Fox 2 10pm news. I finally made it on TV playing poker!!!
I busted out 1 hand before the first break. My K-K got clobbered by A-A. Hoped for a miracle K or runner runner hearts. They just weren’t in the cards. Scott, the guy with all my chips, made a deep run and went out 33rd. My chips lasted a good long time! Scott told me Cada went out 45th – so the guy who took me out outlasted the WSOP Champ. Not too bad!
Northville Downs had two full cash tables, Blackjack, Let it Ride and Roulette available for those busted out players.
What an amazing event for Friends of Chrystal, the charity hosting the tournament. They completely sold out every entry available, and could have sold more if the state limit for chips sold were higher than $15,000. Keep an eye out – with the overwhelming response to this tournament, there will be more in the future!
Proceeds to the general fund of the Domestic Violence Coalition, May 30, M57050
Join us at the NORTHVILLE DOWNS CHARITY POKER ROOM throughout the month of May to win your way into the WSOP. Each weekend we will have an event designed to provide the top place finisher(s) enough cash to buy their way into a WSOP event. Go to http://www.charityholdemcalendar.com/northville/events.htm.
Event # 1: Sunday, May 30 at 2pm WSOP $1500 Circuit Event Qualifier (REBUY TOURNAMENT)
ENTRY FEE: $65
SEATS AVAILABLE: OPEN
PAYOUTS: Prizes paid in increments of $1500
Where: Northville Downs Charity Poker Room, 301 S. Center St, Northville, MI 48167
More Info: 248-912-5108
Click HERE to register. We strongly recommend you Pre-Register as limited seating is available. Multiple tournaments may run simultaneously to accommodate demand.
Proceeds to the general fund of Milford High School Band Parents, May 22, M57569
Join us at the NORTHVILLE DOWNS CHARITY POKER ROOM throughout the month of May to win your way into the WSOP. Each weekend we will have an event designed to provide the top place finisher(s) enough cash to buy their way into a WSOP event. Go to http://www.charityholdemcalendar.com/northville/events.htm.
Event # 1: Saturday, May 22 at 2pm WSOP $1000 Circuit Event Qualifier (REBUY TOURNAMENT)
ENTRY FEE: $50
SEATS AVAILABLE: OPEN
PAYOUTS: Prizes paid in increments of $1000
Where: Northville Downs Charity Poker Room, 301 S. Center St, Northville, MI 48167
More Info: 248-912-5108
Click HERE to register. We strongly recommend you Pre-Register as limited seating is available. Multiple tournaments may run simultaneously to accommodate demand.
Proceeds to the general fund of Friends of Chrystal May 16, M56775
Join us at the NORTHVILLE DOWNS CHARITY POKER ROOM throughout the month of May to win your way into the WSOP. Each weekend we will have an event designed to provide the top place finisher(s) enough cash to buy their way into a WSOP event. Go to http://www.charityholdemcalendar.com/northville/events.htm.
Test your skill and play in our May 15 Qualifier against Joe Cada, 2010 WSOP Main Event Champion!
$40 Single Table Satellites Daily – 2 players advance
Event # 1: Sunday, May 16 at 2pm WSOP $10,000 Main Event Qualifier
Where: Northville Downs Charity Poker Room, 301 S. Center St, Northville, MI 48167
More Info: 248-912-5108
Click HERE to register. We strongly recommend you Pre-Register as limited seating is available. Multiple tournaments may run simultaneously to accommodate demand.
Northville Downs Charity Poker Room
