4141 Bauer Rd
Brighton, MI
810-610-7208
http://www.premierpokerlounge.com
4 Days a Week
Thursday to Saturday: 5pm – 2am
Sunday: 2pm - midnight
Date Room Reviewed: Saturday, March 21, 2009
22 of 25 Chips
The Premier Poker Lounge was hosting United Retired Government Employees Local 1 (M45910) playing to monitor and protect government employee pensions. The PPL is located inside the Mt Brighton Ski Lodge and Jackal Golf Course. My partner Lisa and I came out to play between seasons – skiing season just ended, and golf starts up the next week-end.
There was one cash game going before the tournament. PPL offers great cash game promos - $3 max rake before the tournament starts on Thur – Sat, $4 max rake all day on Sunday. We played in the Saturday night FreeRoll. $0 buy-in for 1000 chips, optional $20 add-on at registration for 6000 chips, and another optional $20 add-on at the first break for 10,000 chips. The tournament was maxed out at 50 players with two alternates.
#1 Games: 5 of 5 chips
Five of five chips for games offered at PPL! The rake is 10% up to $3 before the tournament start at 7pm, 10% up to $4 all day on Sunday, or 10% up to $5 any other time.
· $1/$2 NLHE $50 min / $200 max
· $1/$2 NLHE $100 min / $300 max
· $2/$5 NLHE $200 min / $500 max
· $1/$2 Round by Round Omaha / NLHE
· Blackjack
· Sit-n-goes available any time!
PPL is starting a high hand jackpot that pays out every 2 hours! 90% payback on high hand; both card in your hand must play.
#2 Tournaments : 4 of 5 chips
Tournaments at PPL start ON TIME! There’s a countdown clock in the poker room to let players know when to take their seats. Card will be dealt when the clock reaches zero. With the number of players showing up for the Saturday FreeRoll, arrive early or call ahead to reserve your seat! These tourneys fill up quick!
The tournaments offered at PPL are all low or no buy-in with add-ons or rebuys available for each one. Each tournament has a generous 80% payback, which builds some nice prize pools. This is the schedule we played for the URGW:
- Thursday: 7pm $5 rebuy with $200 guaranteed prize pool. 1000 starting stack with unlimited $5 rebuys until the first break. $10 add-on at the break for 3000 chips. 10 min blinds.
- Friday: 7pm $300 Freeroll with $10 rebuys and add-on. 1000 starting chips for free! Unlimited rebuys until the first break, must be at or below 1000 chips to rebuy. $10 add-on for 3000 chips at the break. 15 min blinds Min 30 players, max 50 players.
- Saturday: 7pm $750 Freeroll 20/20. 1000 starting chips for free. Optional $20 add-on at registration for 5000 chips. Another optional $20 add-on at the break for 10,000 chips. 15 min blinds. Min 30 players, max 50 players.
- Sunday: 7pm $5 rebuy with $200 guaranteed prize pool. 1000 starting stack with unlimited $5 rebuys until the first break. $10 add-on at the break for 3000 chips. 10 min blinds.
Tournament director software is on one of the TV’s – keeping everyone at the same blind level, and informed of the time left in the current round. All tournaments start with 25/50 blinds, and notch up at a reasonable pace.
PPL has a generous payout, good blind structure, standard house rules evenly enforced. We would really like to see some higher buy-in or deep stack tournaments on the schedule.
#3 Atmosphere: 4 of 5 chips
The poker room is located at the north end of the lodge. Go in through the gate next to the Pepsi machine and turn left. Once you’re inside, walk all the way to the end of the building. The poker room has a gazebo inside where the charity volunteers sell chips and tournament buy-ins. There’s also a bar at the end of the poker room, and booths on both sides.
This is a really fun poker room! There is music playing in the background, TV’s with the March Madness games going, big globe lights coming down from the vaulted ceiling, fully stocked bar and a gazebo. A full wall of windows opens the room up to the face of Mt Brighton’s ski hill. The room is non-smoking. The full menu from the Bauery Restaurant is available. The Bauery makes home-made potato chips every day. You can order at the bar – the food is delicious!
PPL is always looking for ways to make your visit better. If you have a compliment or concern, bring it directly to Brian, or fill out one of the customer satisfaction surveys on the tables in the booths.
Lack of lighting in the parking lot and difficulty finding the poker room are why PPL gets 4 of 5 chips.
#4 Equipment : 4 of 5 chips
Brian & Dan have a fully equipped poker room. Each of the seven custom-made table seats 9 players plus a dealer comfortably. There are plenty of drink/snack scooters to keep food and beverages out of the playing area. Cushy banquet chairs seat each player, with plenty of room between tables so you don’t bump someone else’s chair when you get up. Custom chips on the cash table, brand new cards at each table, nice tournament chips too.
#5 Staff: 5 of 5 chips
Kyle, Heresh, Adam and the rest of the dealer team are fast, friendly and accurate at the cash and tournament tables at PPL. Brian, the poker room manager, and the dealers all had a friendly rapport with the players, welcoming them to the poker room. Cash players were quickly seated, tournament players directed to the right seat at the right table. The dealers are great at making new players feel welcome and keeping the game moving to make the veteran players happy. PPL also gets an extra chip for fast friendly wait staff!
Tournaments are PPL’s big strength. They regularly fill up, so arrive early or be an alternate. They really have a deadly combination with the golf course and the poker room. What a beautiful outing – 9 holes of golf, a cold beer and a cash game!
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