Poker tournament changes at the Hard Rock
Beginning Tuesday, April 1, the Hard Rock will have a $100 tournament at 11 a.m. Mon.-Tues.-Weds. with an option: two $100 add-ons.
Hard Rock officials said the structure will give players an option of adding on twice during the first three levels. Each add-on, and the starting stack are 3,000 units each.
They point out that they are "add-ons," not "rebuys," meaning it's not necessarily a move you have to wait to be knocked out of in order to make the buy. In similar tournaments, such as the Saturday $575 tournament with a $500 add-on, about 60 percent of the players make the add-on.
The main reason: a way to build the prize pool without forcing people to pay the higher price.
Which brings up my strategy question: When would you go for the add-on? Always? Or only if you have a good stack and want to give yourself a chance to win? Or if you're down to the felt?
My thinking -- and I admit I'm not a great player -- is that if I'm down to a very short stack anyway, why throw another $100? But if I have a chance to make money in a tournament, I'll pay the $100 twice with the idea of going for the win.
What do you think?
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, moved on to "night baseball" and "pass the trash" during a Dr. Pepper-infused midnight game in the 1980s at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and now play in a regular neighborhood Hold 'Em game in Plantation. I have been given the assignment of writing about the gambling life in South Florida casinos for the Sun-Sentinel...which means sitting around watching poker on TV now counts as research.
