Central Ohio Poker Scene

Currently there are 8 clubs operating in the Columbus area plus a couple in outlying cities.
1. Gemini Players Club
2. Buckeye Card Club
3. Columbus Sports Club (CSC)
4. Stringtown Players Club (SPC)
5. Evergreen Players Club (EPC)
6. Platinum Players Club (PPC)
7. Bicycle Card Club (not sure if it is called Card Club or Players Club)
8. Nick's Shark Tank (NST)
9. Premier Players Club

With all of these clubs operating in the immediate Columbus area there is not reason not to be able to find a game.

In addition to the clubs the local vegas nights group is still running and even has gin tournaments on Mondays or Tuesdays. And many of the local Catholic churchs have casino nights occassionally also.

Does anyone play at any of these clubs and if so... what are your opinions of them?


Just trying to get some conversations going about them and the local scene.

I play at Columbus Sports Club (CSC). Never been to another club yet, but do plan on joining another one or two very soon.

Imo CSC is awesome! They keep growing and getting bigger with time. The owner/staff is friendly and very helpful for new players. Dealers are VERY professional and know what they are doing.

And one of these days Crummy I will drag you to another club. And I will make you get up when you hit a certain stack also!!!

What kind of games are these? Are the SNG's? Cash games? or do you just play for prizes? What kind of blinds and limits do they have?

Most of the clubs also offer chess, checkers, backgammon. A few offer pool and pingpong. And a few others also have game consoles hooked up to flat screen TVs.

As for poker offerings they have daily tournaments at most clubs. Though most of the tournaments offered are NLHE a few clubs have other variants of poker tournaments. All of the clubs offer live ring games also. Only one or two have limit or other non NL games. One of the clubs has a weekly 2/4 HORSE game that is pretty decent.
The levels of NL offered depend on the members there that given day. Most clubs offer 1/2 or 1/3 all the time. But they have had larger games such as a 2/5 (sometimes 5/5) NL game.

What kind of rake to they pull off the table? Do they pull Jackpot money also?

Most of the clubs do not charge a rake. They charge an annual (or monthly) membership fee. These fees range from $1 to $60 with the average being $25 per year. Then there is a daily fee each day you go to the club similar to a cover charge at a bar. You pay to get in and drinking (or in this case poker) is extra. The most any club charges for one business day is $25. They do not take money from the pots. They do encourage you to tip the dealers as they do not pay them. The tip money is to be seperate from your actual wagered money. There is one club that charges an hourly fee vs the business day fee. It is $4 per half hour. Their reasoning is that if you are only there 2 hours you have saved money over the $25 daily fee. And one club does currently take $1 for a bad beat jackpot when the pot is over $50.

BTW, none of the clubs serve alcohol and to the best of my knowledge nor permit you to consume alcohol on the property.

I didn't even know there was places in Ohio to play. I am about an Hour and half from Columbus but would love to make the trip up there one day soon. I thought I would have to go to the boat but I was told the rake there was crazy. Is that true?

72will, there are places all around Ohio. Where in OH are you located?
The casinos (boats) do charge a pretty good rake... but that is the case with nearly all casinos. Most of the time it is $4 max per hand plus $1 for the badbeat jackpot (bbj). Plus add $1 standard for tip and you can calculate $6 per hand and 20 hands min per hour. $120 is leaving the table without a single player leaving. And some make their max rake $5 per hand. So it can be steep. The no rake clubs are nice but you normally will pay between $15 and $25 up front for the daily use fee.

I live in Troy which puts me an hour and a half from Columbus and an hour or so from Cincinnati. I know my father in law has played a few at some churches and he also as a friend that holds a tournament once a week for $25 buy in.

Please do!!! This weekend is not good as I'm going back to Chillicothe to see some family. What are you doing next weekend? I might be going to Zoombizebay, however I plan on playing Saturday night, maybe Friday night as well.

Not sure about next weekend yet. I know I will be going to Cleveland sometime... just not sure which night. Let me know.
Have a good time back in Chilli this weekend.

Hey Csuave I see you joined the Cleveland poker meetup group. Starting in Sept I think the regular sat night games in Lorain start at guy named Daves house he allows new members to play, others have to know you before you can get into those games, Anyway hope to see ya some games if you ever are playing in one of the games let me know I will be sure to make it that day, Its a good game $20 gets you T5000 and you can get T3000 for $10 anytime so you can get it right away or wait if you get knocked out use it like a rebuy, any way good structure and players.

Thanks for the info Grossberger. I will definitely let you know if I make it to one of those games. I tend to mainly play ring games when I am in Cleveland. Only ever played one tournament and I made top 4 down at Nautica (we chopped).
I figured I would join the group as I am in the Cleveland area every other weekend.

There is always a nice ring game after a table opens up usually a 1/1 game and a 8 game mix I love the 8 game mix.
you can always show up around 9 and just play cash.

I was just going through the WSOP results and noticed that a guy named David Randall from Westerville OH placed third in the $1,500 NLHE Event. I was wondering whether any of you who play in the Columbus area clubs know him.

LarkMarlow,
I know David. Met him a few times at Gemini. He plays there occasionally. He is a very good player (mainly online pro) who also is involved in a coaching site also. The event he got 3rd in was the one Dwan almost took down but ended up in second place.

This Saturday Aug 28 is Columbus Sports Club's $200 tournament.

Also on Sundays Platinum Players Club has a $100 tournament with a
$1000 for first place guarantee. That is every Sunday.

Premier Club also is holding a $250 tournament this Sat Aug 28. Normally their $100 tournament brings in 70-100 players so I am expecting about 45 - 60 players for this larger buy in.

Whatever you do, stay away from Home Games in the Ohio area (prolly good idea to stay away everywhere) as there have been many robberies including one in Tallin just this week.

Home Poker Hold-ups have been on a huge rise the last 12 months. Be Careful.

I would say this about home games. Be cautious. If home games put their address out on the internet freely or seem to take just about anyone into the game str8 from the street avoid them. If they are the type of game were most of the regulars are decent guys and only new players come by being invited they are probably ok. But even with all of that you still have to be cautious. Even players at casinos have been getting robbed lately by people following them home after big wins and the robbing them.

In all situations, be cautious.

Where's Tallin? Was there any news coverage of this robbery? What was the MO? I've been wondering whether there is a pattern to these robberies.

Sorry hit wrong letters...Tiffin, Oh

http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/pa....html?nav=5005

Pretty much the same MO as one reported recently here--sounds like this sort of thing is indeed going on throughout the state. I've never heard nor read any followups on such reports which I think is interesting.

At this time I am sorry to report that the Stringtown Players Club in Grove City has closed.

Also though a new club in Marysville has opened. It is called The Ace of Clubs. http://www.playattheace.com/index.html

Just to let some of you know I made a visit to the new club The Bicycle Club on Westerville Rd @ 270 (Glengary Center).
Very nice club and well run.
Good group of people. Fun players in the tournament I played (didn't fair well). Nice no overbearing personalities (except mine... sorry players).
Their cash games are in the .50/1.00 to 1/2 range which can be a nice change for those that do not want to get into the stack wars of some of the other clubs. Probably a good place for beginners to try their hand at NLHE. Here is their link http://www.thecycleclub.org/

Some of the other clubs have been having some different and higher prize pool tournaments.

Platinum had a $160 tourney with a $8k First place.

Buckeye continues to do their monthly qualifier that they add $2500.00 to the prize pool. Lots of interest in that one.

Any questions about any of the clubs, feel free to ask.

Here is Bicycle Club's tournament schedule:
Monday 7:30 $30 + 10(use fee) Rebuys + Addon First Hour
Tuesday 7:30 $35 + 10(use fee) Freezeout $5 optional bounty
Wednesday 7:30 $25 + 10(use fee) Rebuys + Addon First Hour
Thursday 7:30 $40 + 10(use fee) Freezeout
Friday 7:30 $25 + 10(use fee) Rebuys + Addon First Hour
Saturday 1:00 $25 + 10(use fee) Rebuys + Addon First Hour
6:00 $100 + 10(use fee) Freezeout
Sunday 1:00 $30 + 10(use fee) "Deep Stack" Freezeout
6:00 $25 + 10(use fee) Rebuys + Addon First Hour

This schedule is subject to change as they tweek things for the players. Suggest you contact them for further info.

The big Poker weekend is 3 days and 5 events at the Meadows Casino in Washington PA. This is really cool event starting December 3 -5th. More details and fun at ESPN 850's Poker page or atwww.divisionofpoker.com. The radio show posts new content every wednesday and is a show focused on midwest poker. Join the fun.

mcs198, thank you very much for the info. I have been itching to get over to Meadows to play in one of their tourneys. I have heard they actually get some stud games off once in a while and heard a rumor that they also get a stud or horse tournament. Can you confirm if that is true?

Also this weekend (Nov 12-15) is a series of great tournaments at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg IN (just outside of Cincy). The events will probably get over 400 players each especially today's $340 Deepstack.

I've heard that a club is opening in Springfield. Anybody else heard about this? Would anybody play there if it does open?

Nicks Shark Tank is my new home in Columbus.... www.nickssharktank.com Check them out!

Nice to see you back on here Crummy.

The Ace of Clubs in Marysville is holding a $250 buyin tourney on Saturday, Dec. 4th: 2PM start, 25,000 chips, 40 minute blinds, 2010 WSOP Main Event blind structure. If enough players sign up then we will make this a 2-day event. For more info: www.PlayAtTheAce.com

Members that play in these live rooms - please take a look at CardsChat Posters in Live Rooms

TY Jillychemung.

Just wanted to note that there is another new club in the Columbus area. SPC has opened up on the far east side. It is located on Broad Street near Mt Carmel Hospital (opposite side of Broad though).

240 Outerbelt St. Columbus OH

I have heard that they cater to the 2/5 and 5/5 NL crowds but they are also getting limit games going (3/6, 4/8 and 5/10).

Also, an update on the scene is that Buckeye Card Club in Pickerington has been getting some very good 10/20 LHE games going weekly. I think Thursdays and Fridays are the big days for this crowd.