Poker Town

I want to hit the road and play small and

mid steaks Hold'em for three months this summer

in the western U.S. Numerous casinos proximate

to inexpensive lodging preferable. Ideas,

comments?


Thanks',


BuckyJoe

Obviously, Las Vegas has many inexpensive hotels. You can get a simple clean room for about $40/day within walking distance of the Strip. I believe there are also furnished apartments you can rent on either a weekly or monthly basis which would be cheaper than that.


There are 10 poker rooms on the Strip. Both the Mirage and Bellagio spread games in the mid and high limits. In addition, the Orleans (one mile of Strip) and Binion's Horshoe (Downtown) have a large game selection.

You may also want to check to see if the Casino/Hotel where a poker room is located has a poker rate for the players. I believe that low limit players at the Orleans can get a room pretty cheap.

http://www.playsys.com/Content/pages/default.asp


"If you like casino gambling vacations, PlaySys was created for you! Travel with us, and you can receive a comped suite, gourmet meals and money back, based on your average bet and hours of play. No matter what happens at the tables or slots, you come out ahead!"

Go to Los Angeles. Go directly to Los Angeles. Do not pass "Go," do not collect $200.


Seriously, LA is the capitol of poker. There are more tables at the Commerce Club than there are in the city of Las Vegas, and there are more tables in Los Angeles County than there are in the entire state of Nevada.


There are (comparatively) inexpensive hotels and motels at or near Los Angeles cardrooms. For example, Crystal Park, in Compton, features a hotel with a low players' room rate, which is completely free if you play for a sufficient number of hours in the top-section games.


There's an inexpensive motel across Century Blvd. from Hollywood Park, but note that it is something of a roach motel. There is a Ramada Limited across the street from the Bicycle Club where I have had decent experiences (although some players I know have complained about the room quality). The hotel attached to the Commerce Club is fairly pricey, even at the players' rate.


Further away from the cardrooms are a wealth of hotel and motel options for all budgets. They won't be as cheap as Las Vegas during weekdays on the off-season, but there's plenty more poker action in LA.

While what you say is absolutely true, the rake in the small games is extremely high in California as well as the other expenses. So, I don't recommend California to someone like this if they only plan to play small limit. But this poster also stated that he wanted to play middle limit as well, and in that case, Alan's advice is right on.

"For example, Crystal Park, in Compton..."


"Straight Outta Compton, crazy muthaf***a named Ice Cube, from the gang called Niggaz With Attitude..."


seriously though... i lived in L.A. for a little while. never went to Compton. from what i hear, its a rough place to be unless you're a tough homeboy. anybody confirm or deny this?

Crystal Park is located in an industrial area of Compton, right next to the 91 freeway, with easy on/off access. I haven't been there in over a year however I'm told they usuall only have one 3/6 game going during the day and perhaps two at night. I'm sure they still have a players rate on their rooms, it used to $35 a night with a minimum of 4 hours play.


Jim

Baggins,


You are scaring me... lol. I remember NWA well; I had a buddy who used to blast it everywhere we went. Thanks for reminding me. By the way, how old are you? I got the impression you weren't old enough to have rememebered NWA in their original incarnation.


Fitz

"mid steaks"?

You might want to try Ruth's Chris or Morton's at the medium range and Sizzler and Outback at the lower range. /images/smile.gif

im 23. barely old enough. i was introduced to them after their orginal heyday by some friends who are the same age as me, and grew up on NWA. they are still up there on the greatest rap artists of all time list. along with the Beastie Boys, RUNDMC, and Public Enemy. but i still get a blast from the past every once in a while from the original crew, which included Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. Dre and Ice have gone on to be some big hitters in the entertainment industry, more on the production end of things now, with Ice Cube doing some pretty dang good stuff in movies (who could forget Friday?)

I used to work as a cook at Outback. they'll cook you up a mean piece of meat, and however you like it. they got good eats over there. i'll never work in food service again, as long as i live however...

Alan is right on. You can't beat LA Poker. The rakes and expenses may be higher, but the mediocrity of most players makes up for that all. Compton isn't all bad, but still not a great neighborhood. Considering the amounts of cash(hopefully) that you will be walking around with, I think Commerce and its industrial surroundings is the safest. Hollywood Park and Crystal Park are in pretty scummy neighborhoods. The 'Wood(Inglewood) and C-Town(Compton), for all you rap fans.


DN

Go straight to the 15-30 at Bellagio.


Best of luck.


~D

Dear Jim (Sir):


Thanks for the advice on the poker room at Crystal park.


I met a nice fellow poker player (he dressed a little funny -- extra large short pants) when I was sight seeing in the 18th Street & 22nd Street area of Los Angeles. This gentleman also recommended the Crystal Park Casino Card Room as a really nice place to play poker. He mentioned that it has great freeway access for getting away when you leave. Like some of the posts mentioned, he said "rooms are reasonable if you stay over." He also mentioned that it is located near a very nice city which just happens to be near Compton, and that Compton has a wonderful Police Force to protect you while playing poker. Also you he said, "You won't forget to look over your shoulder when leaving the parking lot -- you will remember." He also gave me some extra free advice: take your cell phone with you because sometimes the hotel's pay phones cut out in the middle of a call.


I'm thinking about making a trip there in the near future.


Jim, thanks again.


Most warm regards,


William

DN & Alan are right on.


When HollyPark casino first opened it was a pretty rough neighborhood, but hopefully it is tame now. When I go there, I park near a guard shack for protection. But be careful if you stay at a motel near there. Back in 1996, a fellow I worked with (a computer contract worker)for economy rented a motel room a few blocks west of Hollywood Park Casino. He made the mistake of walking the few blocks to the casino to play poker. As he was leaving he said hello to me and mentioned that he lost his limit in a stud game. The next day at work, he said he got mugged by three guys on Century Blvd. But they were very kind and didn't hurt him. He told the muggers all he had left was $24. They left him $4 for breakfast. He should have driven those few blocks from the motel to the casino.

when i was living in LA last year, i went to the bicycle club most frequently. i guess it was because i liked their low buy-in tournaments, and i also signed up for that freeroll tournament with the card that they log the hours on. i ended up moving back to chicago before i could play that tournament. but i did like the bike. lots of tables, and they usually moved fast. i played mostly 1-2 and 2-4 then. the food was pretty decent and pretty cheap.


i did like the commerce too. but sometimes their LL section was too crowded, and i didn't like waiting. also, the blind structures were slightly different between the bike and the commerce. the bike only used 1 BB and no SB in 1-2 and i think 2-4. i was never afraid of the neighborhood wither was in. but then again, im 6'2" and weigh 265 lbs. i don't look like a pussycat either...