Arizona Poker Tour
 

Glenn and I have decided to do a spur-of-the-moment tour of Arizona cardrooms. We just moved here a little over a year ago, and have barely seen anything outside of Kingman, Bullhead City and the casinos in Laughlin/Vegas. The rest of the state has been mostly a mystery.

Although I toured the entire state while looking for a place to hang our hats, Glenn has never seen most of Arizona, nor played in its many cardrooms.

We plan on playing in some of the Phoenix cardrooms, most especially Casino Arizona. We hope to arrive today around rush hour.

We'll stay a day or two in Phoenix, then most likely head over to Globe. One day in Globe is enough, then we'll head down to southeastern AZ and see Tombstone, Bisbee and some of the other small towns.

Once we see some sites, we'll head back up northwest towards Tucson and check out Desert Diamond and Casino of the Sun. We have played at DD before, but it's been a couple of years, so who knows what is new. From Tucson, we'll either head over to Yuma to play, or go north towards Payson and Cliff Castle. It depends solely on the weather, at that point. If Flagstaff is under 12" of snow, we'll head west to Yuma instead.

I have played at Cliff Castle, and absolutely hated it. I've heard nothing has changed there. We did, however, like Prescott, and I know that Payson has opened back up their cardroom, although they just have a couple of 3/6 HE tables.

If we go to Yuma, we'll finish up our Arizona tour south of Laughlin in Parker, AZ. I've heard they have a small, cozy cardroom there.

Please look for me if you play in any of these areas.

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
www.felicialee.net

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Enjoy CA... the room is mostly loose weak-passive, but if you are lucky enough to find a table with a maniac who has the passives on tilt (and it seems to happen often here) then it will become very profitable indeed. The higher limit hold'em tables are filled with a mix of LAGS and weak-tight players, I can only tell this from observation so far (I play 6/12 and 4/8 at CA when I am in town). Avoid the NL game, its really a 5-150 spread limit game - very odd. I don't play much Omaha or Stud, but the Omaha 8 games look fantastic at the upper levels. I think they spread a 20-40 rotation game that you should be able to crush, it doesn't always run.

Best advice - show up right before a football game. The whole city comes out to watch on the big screens, and play in the football promotion.

If you want advice where to stay, go, etc besides the poker room, PM me. I publish a magazine in Phoenix, my connections inthe market run quite deep!

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

I play at Desert Diamond fairly frequently and Im always looking to meet other 2+2ers.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

[ QUOTE ]
I play at Desert Diamond fairly frequently and Im always looking to meet other 2+2ers.

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Slight change of plans. I forgot that Apache Gold in Globe is closed on Tuesdays. So instead, today we're going to Tucson. We'll visit Biosphere first, then the two cardrooms in Tucson later today and tonight.

I look like my pic, but with slightly longer hair (still very short). I'm wearing the standard poker players' jogging suit, in an orange and cream color. Hope to see you there!

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
www.felicialee.net

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Did you play in the tournament at desert diamond? I saw someone that looks similar to you there but I had not checked your previous post yet so I was not sure if it was you or not.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Yeah, that was me. I was knocked out pretty early (when there were still four tables). Loose player raised as a steal with T8s. I went over the top with KK and he called for almost all of his stack. I guess he thought I was bluffing, but what kind of bluff can T8 beat, lol? T8x on the flop and IGHN. I'll take that call every day!

I loved DD. It was a fantastic, friendly place. I hadn't played there since they were at the other site, farther down 19. I thought they must have fallen on hard times, but everyone said that it was just a bad location, and the trailer is a temporary structure.

The tournament is great. Jeez, those dudes really have no idea how to play NLHE, do they? I've never seen such bad play for a $155 tourney. Fantastic! Someone told me that this tournament just started a month ago, so perhaps that explains some of it.

I was impressed by the Omaha table, too. I don't really even care for O8, but the players were not the usual super-grumpy lot. Sure, there were a couple of rotten apples, but most of the players were friendly and jovial. The action was superb.

We will definitely be back. This time say HI!

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
www.felicialee.net

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

(This is Glenn. I accidentally posted under Felicia's login)

BTW, Felicia and I will be at Desert Diamond tonight for their Wednesday night 55+10 tourney.

(I made it to 16th out of 51 last night-grr. I had a really good chip count earlier in the tournament when my AA got cracked by JJ--he went all-in, I went all-in--he spiked. I had enough chips to keep me going until someone went for my blind and I had AT so defended. I got my Ten, but he got his 6 for trips and IGHN... more later on blogger.)

Glenn (Domit)
http://bagsmode.blogspot.com/

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Felicia, I believe I was at your table. I saw your QQ get cracked by the guy with A7s going all in with his flush draw and spiking an Ace. The very next hand I raised with AJos and you came over the top all in....think you could tell me what you had? hehe.

Ill see if I can get there today but I think I have some work to do first.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

I was thinking of a timeshare exchange and Payson is one of the options. How is the Mazatzal?

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

I know people who live closer than I do, so don't take my opinion as gospel!

They used to have a poker room, but closed it due to lack of interest. I think this happened about the summer of 2003. With the current boom, they said they opened up two tables, but they are in the pit, and solely spread 3/6 HE. No other games, no tourneys, nada.

This was of my last conversation with them in maybe Nov 2004.

For a better cardroom, a close choice would be Bucky's in Prescott. I immensely enjoyed my time there. They have a crazy structured Stud 8 game, as well as a lot of fun, nutty crapshoot tournaments that are virtually free for frequent players. The staff is very nice, I just wish the place was bigger!

For more game selection, you can try Cliff Castle in that area. I did not care for their cardroom at all, but it is beautiful, and has a wide variety of limits for that area of the state.

Laughlin has the cheapest rake/juice and overall choice of casinos in the area. Phoenix has the widest selection of games and limits.

Good luck!

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Don't you people have jobs??? I might be jealous that I cant go on my own little poker tour in the southwest.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

No! No jobs. My husband (Domit) and I gave AOL the best years of our lives. In return, they gave us the boot.

But at least they gave us the boot with the means to retire early.

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Hello, could you elaborate a little about what you didn't like about Cliff Castle?

We are going to Vegas in September and we always go to Sedona. I noticed that Cliff Castle has a cardroom and is close to Sedona.

Here is my plan and i am wondering if it will work out.

Fly in to Vegas, stay a few days, drive to Sedona early and spend the night at Cliff Castle.

What I would like to know is, If we left cliff Caslte fairly early, can we hit the Grand Canyon for lunch and then make it to Bryce Canyon before it gets incredibly late?

I would like to sneak in a little poker at Cliff Castle, but if it sucks, I can pass and save some driving.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Maybe you could look up my old post about it. It should have the words "Cliff Castle" in it, and be written in the August 2003 timeframe. If you can't find it, I'll try to find it either here or my website: www.felicialee.net

I thought maybe they had changed for the better. After all, if they get too many complaints, they will alter their behavior. But I heard from one on the floormen at Bucky's that they are still running the same, shoddy cardroom.

Wow, Camp Verde to Bryce Canyon. That is going to be a toughie, unless you're the type of traveller who says, "Oh, nice, Grand Canyon. Okay, what's next?" All of this in under five minutes, that is, lol [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The problem is the lack of highways in this area. There are so many reservations and protected land, that you have to take circuitous routes to a lot of places (not to mention the sparce population).

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

We have been to the Grand Canyon before, but we are taking one of my wife's friends along and She hasn't seen the Grand Canyon. We were thinking, look over the edge, eat lunch at the El Trobar and get on down the road, or up because it is higher up 0n the map.

I have Map Point North America software and it looks doable but I was wanting some real world feedback.

If Cliff Caslte poker sucks, I am better off saving the time because I can always O.D. on Poker in Vegas.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Steamboatin: On the way down from Sedona stop in Phoenix/Scottsdale and play at Casino Arizona.

Felica - We had a conversation some time ago about the IWTSTH syndrome at Casino Arizona, and how it was abused there. I played at CA this past weekend, and at the end of the first hand that I witnessed at a 6/12 table (I kid you not, the first hand) someone at the table who folded on the turn asked to see the loser’s hand at showdown. The dealer pulled the two cards out of the top of the muck and showed the table - I gritted my teeth and decided to let the next player who pulled that shite know that I was going to call the floor if it happens again. So just 3 hands later the same character sitting to my left asks to see the loosing hand at showdown again. I whispered in his ear that if he tries that [censored] while I am in the hand, we are going to have a problem. He asked what was wrong with asking to see the hand, that it was the rules. So I offered to go get Roberts Rules to show him that he was wrong. He listened carefully and attentively, then thanked me for educating him - and he apologized once he realized his requests where a form of angle shooting. Most of the table was listening to our conversation, and they all complained that IWTSTH syndrome had gotten out of hand. Even the dealer got involved in the conversation, saying he calls over the floor whenever he thinks the requests have gotten out of hand. So the guy to my left became my buddy for the evening, even going as far as buying a round of drinks for the two of us.

On my way out of the room I asked the floor what CA's official policy was regarding requests to see the loosing hand, he explained the policy is that the dealer is supposed to call the floor if the player will not allow his cards to be seen. At that point the floor will decide if there was the possibility of collusion involved. Only then will they allow the loosing hand to be turned over.

In short I think you visited CA on a very bad day, I think the floor's ruling was correct and accurate. I agree that at a room of this size the policy should be to allow the dealer turn over the hand unless there is an objection, at which point the floor gets involved. Its the most efficient method of managing this annoying scenario by keeping all players happy, both the newbie who exploits the rule unintentionally and the experienced player who refuses to show his or her cards when loosing at showdown.

Now that you know the official policy, would you ever consider returning to the largest card room in the west next to the Commerce?

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Wow, sounds as though you went at as bad of a time as I did! Good thing you are diplomatic and talked it through, instead of ranting and raving and making at ton of enemies like I did! Hehe!

That is just nuts...demanding to see a hand that had been folded at the turn?!?!? I'll bet poor Robert never dreamed of this kind of abuse!

Sounds like the floor was a lot more educated in your case than mine. Remember, mine said something about a player being "rewarded" for playing there by seeing his opponents' hands?

Btw, lose is lose, not loose. Lose=I lost the hand, I lose. Loose=my shirt is loose, I am a stick like Felicia and all of my clothes are LOOSE. Lol. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Yes, sure, I'll be more than willing to try it again. I have a friend, Peter Brownstein (you can look up his record at Poker Pages) who plays the mixed game and 75/150 Stud there regularly.

Felicia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
www.felicialee.net

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

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Btw, lose is lose, not loose. Lose=I lost the hand, I lose. Loose=my shirt is loose, I am a stick like Felicia and all of my clothes are LOOSE.

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Just imagine.. I have to live with this everyday!

When we first met on the internet, I called her the "English Queen", because she was always correcting my english/grammer/spelling [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

[ QUOTE ]

Felica - We had a conversation some time ago about the IWTSTH syndrome at Casino Arizona, and how it was abused there.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

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TT, thanks for explaining this. I was there tonight and a young lady at 20/40 who had a fit when some guy wanted to see her hand. And she claimed she hadn't even called his river bet!

Now that I know the procedure, I'm going to let people at my tables know next time it's abused.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

I won't be coming down to Phoenix this trip. I have a friend that owns a condo in Chandler and we have stayed there in the past. I loved Phoenix/Scottsdale/Chandler, etc. area. If you are not familiar with the area, it is hard to know where one begins and the other ends.

The MRS always wants to stay in Sedona, but I think the rooms are outrageous. My plan is to find a cheaper room that just accidently has poker.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Thanks for the quick reply, Maybe I will sacrifice the heat and make a first trip to Atlantic City instead.

Re: Arizona Poker Tour
 

Loose is spelled lose because my typing sucks. Many other words are misspelled because I am an idiot, but loose becomes lose just because I type to fast. oh... I almost forgot. Btw is spelled "by the way". :P

TT [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]