When it comes to tournaments, the St. Louis area only offers no-limit hold’em, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t variety.
Harrah’s St. Louis: This room runs two tournaments just about every day, and one interesting note: All tournaments are capped at 50 players and alternates are available through the first hour. The room features two structures based on buy-in: $100 (or cheaper) events begin with 10K chips and have 20-minute levels. Anything more expensive than that and you begin with 20K chips and 30-minute levels.
A $60 event runs at noon and 5 on Sundays and at 1 Monday-Friday. Various buy-ins from $60 to $160 are offered Monday-Friday at 7.
The first Saturday of each month is a $310 tournament at 2 p.m. Other Saturdays offer a $125 event at 2. Ask about the last Saturday’s $200 double-shootout format at noon and 3, which offers $10,000 for first.
First-, second- and third-place winners in each tournament also win entry into the Tournament of Champions on the first Sunday of the next month.
Also, Harrah’s will host the WSOP Circuit starting April 12.
Ameristar St. Charles: This room hosts weekday tournaments at 7 p.m., plus Saturday at 2 and Sunday at noon. All tournaments are capped at 60 players and alternates available through Level 1.
• The Monday tournament has a $45 buy-in with a $25 rebuy or add-on. The structure is 3K chips and 15-minute levels. All other tournaments use a structure of 5K chips and 20-minute levels.
• Tuesday is an $80 bounty event with $25 bounties.
• Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday have $55 buy-ins.
• Friday and Saturday tournaments are $75.
• First- and second-place winners in each event also win entry into the Tournament of Stars held the first Saturday the next month.
Lumiere Casino: This room runs a daily tournament at noon for $35 Monday-Thursday and $55 Friday and Saturday. All tournaments use the same structure, 2,500 chips and 20-minute levels. Players are capped at 30 and alternates are available through the end of Level 2.
RIVER CITY CASINO: Another Pinnacle property, its poker room recently was moved and the tournament scheduled changed. There is one tournament a day, either $35 or $60. The $35 events are at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The $60 tournaments (6 p.m.) are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. All tournaments use the same structure with 2,500 chips and 20-minute levels. The $35 events are capped at 40 players; $60 capped at 30. Alternates are available through the end of Level 2.
If you plan to play in any St. Louis-area tournament call ahead to make sure events are running since schedules are subject to change.
— Don Matusofsky is Ante Up’s Missouri Ambassador. You can email him at anteupdonm@gmail.com.
