Going to California- LA area

[WDC]

Visiting my sister and family in Valencia, just north of LA from Nov. 20-27. I have been granted one afternoon or evening to play poker at one of LA's finest card clubs. Question is which one. I am looking for low limit games 4-8 to 8-16.
I am from Minnesota so I don't know how to drive so convenince from Valemcia is a must. Suggestions?

[shant]

Commerce. Most LAG, fishy 4-8 I've ever played.

[onegymrat]

Unfortunately, you will be about an hour from most of the cardrooms, but every casino will have plenty of tables and action for you. From Valencia, you can go down the 405s to the 105e for Hollywood Park. Go down the 5s to Commerce, or branch off to the 710s for the Bicycle Casino. They will have plenty of 3/6, 4/8 and 6/12 for you. The Bicycle will also spread an 8/16 regularly. Good luck.

[andyfox]

Valencia is very nice, you'll enjoy it. But you'll be a good hour from any of the clubs. I suggest, if you can only do one, Commerce. Take the 5 all the way (the name of the freeway will change, but stay on route 5). You'll see it on the left in the city of Commerce. Get off at Washington Blvd. and make two lefts. The drive can be horrific at rush hour, which is almost all day. Try leaving at around 10:30 AM from Valencia and don't go back until after 8:00 PM (if the powers that be grant you such hours).

Good luck.

[pungche]

I was going to post a similar question so I thought I would just add to this one.

I am visiting LA for one week in a couple of months primarily for the purpose of enjoying the sunny weather and playing poker. I am a 10/20 player, have played primarily in Indiana casinos and New York. From reading other posts I know which poker rooms to visit but my question is more tailored to game selection. I have heard so much about this "California aggressive" style and wanted to know at what limits it starts and how difficult it is to adjust to.

So my question is, If I have primiarly played in loose passive 10/20 games, what games should I play in in LA(room and limit). I will be having around a 5K bankroll.

Thanks for all the advise

[andyfox]

At Commerce, there is no 10-20. There's 9-18 (with a jackpot) and 15-30 (no jackpot). The games are generally loose, sometimes passive, sometimes aggressive. The 9-18 games are on the "platform" (a raised section of the room) in the main sectin of the casino. The 15-30 is in the top section, a separate room adjoining the hotel. It's a bit of a walk from one sectionto the other. In the 15-30, you get free food, although a tip of your server is expected; in the 9-18 you pay for the food.

Rick Nebiolo works at The Bike and can fill you in on their games. I've played 8-16 there and I believe they spread 10-20. It's actually a nicer place to play, but the game selecion is usually bigger at Commerce.

If you're here in December of January, you may well enjoy some sunny weather, although we've already had our wettest October on record and the predictin are for a very wet winter.

While in L.A., go to the Getty Museum; the Huntington Art Gallery; and the Alley in downtown L.A. for a unique experience.

[Rick Nebiolo]

If you come down the 5 freeway as others have mentioned at the 710/5 split just south of downtown LA the Bike (Bicycle Casino) and Commerce are about equally close (another three miles or so). For the Bike (where I work) take the 710 south and get off at Florence and go East. The Bike is right at the exit - you can't miss it.

The Bike has all the games in your range and a 10/20 that plays a bit on the weak passive side in the evenings (so it often plays smaller than the loose aggressive 8/16). Do try the restricted buy in ($100 or $200) no limit games at the Bike. They are in a nice section new section in the Plaza (top section).

BTW, IMO best meal at the Bike is the Persian Chicken or Lamb Kabobs.

~ Rick

[pheasant tail (no 18)]

[ QUOTE ]
I have heard so much about this "California aggressive" style and wanted to know at what limits it starts and how difficult it is to adjust to.


[/ QUOTE ]

I recently went down to LA with similar experience and bankroll. Played 6 long sessions and here are my observations:

9-18 at commerce seems to play huge (from the 2 hours that I played there). Much bigger than any 10-20 in Seattle I've seen. People limping w/ things in ep few on this board will defend their SB with. when it comes back to them 3-bets they go ahead and cap. In 2 hours I lost 4 big pots and won 1 and was up $300 or so. Don't play any cards that can not stand many bets.

20-40 at Commerce is also aggressive but there are only a couple of spots that were clueless. A couple of really good players and a handful of very mediocre players. Very beatable. Again, only play hands up front that can handle a few bets. Limping w/ QJo in California is unadvisable.

20-40 (Bike) is about the same. Friendlier atmosphere. Much nicer facility. Better rake. The better players there seemed better (perhaps bc. it is smaller and easier to identify them AND 20-40 was biggest limit game there), and the worse seemed worse. It's just as beatable though.

I went to the bike bc. Rick was very helpful in a similar post of mine. I'm glad I did. I liked it better there. Though Commerce is something to see and I recommend checking it out also.

Always be ready to duck there. In my short trip, I saw two near fist fights and one actual one.

PT

Unless you are real close to Hollywood Park, avoid it. Every three hands they are calling for a setup and the other two they are berating the dealer for being born.

[JimRivett]

I actually live in Valencia!

If you really can't drive it will be difficult to get to any of the LA area casinos!

I can get to the Commerce in 40 minutes, however I'm familiar with the freeways and am used to the traffic. Andy gave excellent directions on how to get there. Don't wait for it to get too late in the afternoon prior to leaving, 2pm at the latest other wise you may run into afternoon traffic. You may also want to wait until after 8pm before attemting the drive back, again becasue of the traffic.

Have fun, Jim

[DeuceKicker]

Isn't there a semi-new casino north of LA? On the 14 north headed toward Palmdale/Lancaster I've seen a billboard for a casino in that area. Might be tough to get there without a car (LA will be, also) but should be closer.

[megabit]

Diamond Jim's Casino is in Rosamond,

[MrDannimal]

I'm gonna be out there next week (well, the 11th-15th ish), so I figured I'd ask the same question, but for lower limits (3/6 and 4/8, mostly).

Along the same lines are there days/times when the games are "bad" that I should look to avoid?

[shant]

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, pretty much anytime afternoon and before 3am is very good at Commerce for 3/6 and 4/8.

[MrDannimal]

Thanks.

[profitman]

I'll also be in the LA area for 2 days in a few weeks. I'll be in Santa Ana. What's the closest poker room to Santa Ana that has a good 2-4NL game? I was in Orange county a couple of months ago, and I drove up to Hawaiian gardens and played their NL game. I would like to try and play somewhere else this time. Also, I'll be there on Sunday and Monday. Are there any mid-limit ($100-200) buy-in tourneys on Sunday or Monday that aren't too far from Santa Ana? Thanks.

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll also be in the LA area for 2 days in a few weeks. I'll be in Santa Ana. What's the closest poker room to Santa Ana that has a good 2-4NL game? I was in Orange county a couple of months ago, and I drove up to Hawaiian gardens and played their NL game. I would like to try and play somewhere else this time. Also, I'll be there on Sunday and Monday. Are there any mid-limit ($100-200) buy-in tourneys on Sunday or Monday that aren't too far from Santa Ana? Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

For a super comfortable and clean no limit section check out the Bike. There are $100 ($2 and $3 blinds) and $200 ($3 and $5 blinds) restricted buy in NL holdem games going daily. Here (http://tinyurl.com/5onu8) is a link to the small tournament schedule. You might find the $50 with one $50 rebuy NLH tournament to your liking on Monday night. Back up from the link for directions etc. If you come by Monday between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm I'll be working the section as a playing host.

BTW, on Sunday the Bike has been running a $330 no rebuy no limit tournament. It has a smallish field so far (the Monday night tournament has large fields) but it won't take a long time to conclude so you can also play live.

Regards,

Rick

[profitman]

Rick,

What time is the Sunday $330 buy in tourney?

THanks.

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
What time is the Sunday $330 buy in tourney?

[/ QUOTE ]

Normally the no limit tornament is at 1:30 pm but just for today (Nov 14) it is at 5:00 pm. Anyway good luck and if you play the $100 or $200 game later please don't hit the $63,000 jackpot until I get there on Monday /images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Regards,

Rick

[modaddy]

I'll be in Costa Mesa next weekend... any suggestions for what might be convenient to there?

[Rick Nebiolo]

Assuming you can get on the infamous 405 freeway Hawaiian Gardens Casino is closest to Costa Mesa (take the 405 to the 605 north about three miles to the Carson exit and go east 1/4 mile). Although the action is good Hawaiian Gardens is still doing business in a vinyl framed tent-like group of buildings and is very noisy and the tables are too close together IMO.

On a weekend the Bike is about the second easiest to get to from Costa Mesa (as opposed to the Commerce where you need to take one of the roughest stretches of the 5 freeway from Orange County). For the Bike take the 405 to the 710 north and go about ten miles passing both the 91 and 105 freeways. Exit east at Florence - the Bike is at the corner. The 710 is tough on weekdays due to truck traffic but is lightly traveled on weekends.

Anyway, as I think I mentioned elsewhere in this thread I work the no limit section on Saturday night. Hope to see you there.

Regards,

Rick