ES
I recently played in this Casino together with my 21 year old son (who is a much better player than me) This casino is the best casino for poker in Dominican Republic.
1) travel: we stayed in Case de Campo, visited Hard Rock casino, poker room , 1:15 hour drive, round trip 200$ including 3 hour wait time)
2) small, nice poker room, 3 tables, advertised from 6 pm to 4 am, but the games did not start until 8 pm. Around 10-11 pm 1-2 people wait line.
3) 2/5$ tables all, playing similar to 5/10$,
25-30$ raises ( I thought it was too high for 2/5)
4) My first table was full of professionals , 6/9 players were pros ( 2-3 Americans, rest local) They make their money mostly from the guests/ tourists.
5) they thought I was a fish, went after me in the first couple hands and I got tighter and won 1-2 good hands, then I think that they decided I wasn't that weak, and directed their attention more to the other fish!
6) I played in this table for 1.5 hours or so, 2 seats ( tourists) lost 300-500$ and were replaced with other tourists a couple times.
7) Buy in I think is 200$-1500$ on this table.
8) plays higher than 2/5$ : a couple times, 30$ raise, 4-bet 100$, all in 500$ hands..
9) atmosphere is nice, locals know each other. Play though against each other also.
10) no limping.
11) average skill level : stronger than US casinos.
12) after 1.5 hours I moved to my sons table ( I don't like playing with him, because he us very good), but all pros make it very difficult. His table was slightly easier, I think there were only 4 pros!
13) I normally play 1-2$, I played tighter here, broke even (20$ up) was never negative. My son started 500$ also and finished with 1120$. He took most of the money from the pro's.
14) these pros are experienced, but not very very good. My son thought they were folding too much strong resistance, so bluffing was important against them. He thought I was not bluffing enough.
15) we played 4:30 hours , had fun and didn't lose money, so I am happy with the result.
16) food: you can order food and pay (the bar across the poker room delivers it) . Water, coke was free. Tea, coffee, drinks : you have to pay.
17) Room was nice, I did not see any unfair play etc. these locals know each other, but were not easy on each other either.
18) If you are not good, or a beginner, these guys will take your money! :-) So be careful! Otherwise, was fun!
