Los Angeles
 

Has any professional poker player moved to LA from a different part of the country because of the poker? Is the bay area significantly worse for poker than LA? Does the presence of internet poker make this conversation moot?

Re: Los Angeles
 

Yes, yes, and no respectively.

I'm most certain about the 3rd answer (there are certainly still B&M pros and will be regardless), least certain about #2 (The Bay Area has some good cardrooms, but seemingly not as many or as big or as famous ones as SoCal -- perhaps that's just my misimpression, though). I really should leave questions like this to the locals. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Los Angeles
 

I'm not exactly sure what your question is. If you're asking if there is a difference b/w going pro in LA and nothern CA I would definitely have to say there is a tradeoff.

While there are much more games in LA and the casinos are bigger, I think No Cal is a nicer place to live.

But strictly for poker, LA would blow No Cal out of the water on a action/game consistency scale.

But again, not sure if that was your question?

Re: Los Angeles
 

considering relocating to SoCal one day. i live in nyc right now where playing poker for a living is quite difficult if you don't go to AC on a regular basis. the area clubs don't cut it for limit and it's an unregulated environment. i'm sure the minute i move to CA poker will become legal in NYC and we'll have places like commerce right in times square! i can't see myself living in vegas, especially since i'm in a relationship.

Re: Los Angeles
 

LA and Vegas poker are completely different.

I would assume you're a live professional, not an online professional, so I could confidently say the vastness of LA poker is most likely greater than that of AC, then again I've never been there.

feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions.

-surf

Re: Los Angeles
 

I'm graduating from Michigan State University in May and I'm planning on moving to LA with hopes of playing poker for most of a supplemental income. If I sleep on my brothers couch I could easily make enough to buy food and pay for my living expenses while looking for a job in the science field.

JMB

Re: Los Angeles
 

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LA and Vegas poker are completely different.

I would assume you're a live professional, not an online professional, so I could confidently say the vastness of LA poker is most likely greater than that of AC.

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I've been to AC and SoCal many, many times. LA poker scene is much bigger and better than Atlantic City.

If Reno is the redheaded stepchild of Vegas, then AC is the Annie to LA.

Re: Los Angeles
 

I actually know all of the differences between the two, so I will answer your question. The cost of living is higher up north than in LA. Real estate is about 15% higher, on average (more in some places), and rent is also higher (though I don't know how much, probably 10-15%). The traffic and smog are much worse in LA than in the Bay Area. Where you would like to live is personal preference: some people are "LA guys" and some are "Bay guys."

As far as poker goes, the biggest games are at Commerce, of course. The maximum limit in San Jose is 200 bucks, so the biggest that they can spread is 100-200, but actually 80-160 is what is spread. This game always goes, and is very good. At Lucky Chances, they spread a big NL games two/three nights a week. It will always go, but can be a tough game. Personally, I think Bay 101 is the best place to play poker in the country.

The thing is in order to play bigger (and win) you have to be a very good player. There are only a few players who beat the big games at Commerece. If you are a hold em player, the biggest game is usually only 100-200, anyway, so it's not much different. If you play stud, then Commerce is a good spot. If you plan on playing in LA, you NEED to learn both games, at the very least. I'd also learn triple draw lowball games. This is the only way you can count on playing bigger than 100-200. However, you always need to be careful when playing high, no matter where you live. Finally, realize that playing 80/16-0 or 100/200 will get you all the money you'll ever need if you play very well and invest wisely. My suggestion to you is to play both places for a few months and see where you want to live. If you want to play smaller and make a living, either place is great, and the games in Vegas are super soft these days, and the cost of living is much less. Good luck.

Re: Los Angeles
 

In LA you can play with Shannon Elizabeth.

Re: Los Angeles
 

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In LA you can play with Shannon Elizabeth.

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This is only useful if she will play with you.

Re: Los Angeles
 

I'm a little surprised that the cost of living is higher in the Bay than L.A. But I've never lived up there and never looked at prices so I can't judge. But I know if a person is moving to L.A. from anywhere other than New York, the Bay, maybe Miami? and a select few other places, their cost of living will be going up up up.

With that said, I don't think the west coast can be beat if you play "pro". It's barely 1pm here and there are already 50k people playing on Party!

L.A. is probably the place to be for live poker though. Commerce and Bike are two of the largest casinos, and they have great action. You also have Hollywood Park, Hustler, Normandie, Oceans Eleven, and Bay 101, Lucky Chances, and Vegas aren't too bad of a drive or plane flight. I think I recall reading in one of the gambling books Sklansky published, he said L.A. is the best place to live if you are playing professional poker. The cost of living in Vegas has me tempted to move though, lol.

Re: Los Angeles
 

a friend of mine commented that i should have put in my OP that i am currently playing 10/20. however (and hopefully) that won't last. i live in nyc so the cost of living here is already high. i think if i moved to LA one day i'd be happy with how far my dollar will go based on what i'm used to paying here. i've been here all my life (30). in atlantic city, there are only a handful of middle limit tables going at one time. there are only two casinos which regularly spread 10/20 and higher, but they often only have one or two tables of each, and at times you can't even find a game bigger than 20/40. i assume that places like commerce and the bike have many tables of 10/20 and up 24/7.

thank you all so much for your input.

Re: Los Angeles
 

If you are coming from NYC, be prepared to get a car. That's the only thing I can think of that may differ. But you will probably spend less on a whole out here, though not as much. As they say, if you can make it in NY, you can make it anywhere.

Since you play 10/20 and I'm assuming you plan on moving up, LA would seem to be the place. Commerce and Bike are always running large games. Also, even smaller card rooms like HPC have "high limit" games that constantly run. If you moved to the Bay I think your choices and variety in games may be a bit slimmer.

Re: Los Angeles
 

You're wrong about the games up here. Midlimit action is tremendous. Frankly, I put the odds on the OP (or anyone playing 10-20) as being slim that they will be big enough winners in to make the 300/600 game at Commerce their daily play. That's why I think that either locale is equally good.

Re: Los Angeles
 

Well I didn't want to make it seem like there was no midlimit action. I just figured that LA may have a few more games, that's all. If the Bay Area has more mid limit games then I stand corrected again in this thread.

Re: Los Angeles
 

Very few $10-20 games in Los Angeles.

You will most likely have to make the adjustment to $9-18(extreme variance and very high drop. Highly profitable though), $15-30(though nearly dead at Commerce), and $20-40.

Re: Los Angeles
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very few $10-20 games in Los Angeles.

You will most likely have to make the adjustment to $9-18(extreme variance and very high drop. Highly profitable though), $15-30(though nearly dead at Commerce), and $20-40.

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What does high drop mean?

Re: Los Angeles
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Very few $10-20 games in Los Angeles.

You will most likely have to make the adjustment to $9-18(extreme variance and very high drop. Highly profitable though), $15-30(though nearly dead at Commerce), and $20-40.

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What does high drop mean?

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Rake/time, aka what the house takes for providing you a place to play.

I have heard people say the rake and time charges in LA are high, but I do not know what they are. Here in AZ the 20 and above games pay $7/hhr, which is not bad.

Re: Los Angeles
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rake/time, aka what the house takes for providing you a place to play.

I have heard people say the rake and time charges in LA are high, but I do not know what they are. Here in AZ the 20 and above games pay $7/hhr, which is not bad.

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In every casino and cardroom I've played, the charge for 10/20 is $5/hhr. I believe in AC it's $7/hhr for 20/40. Could it possibly be higher than $5 for 9/18 at Commerce?

Re: Los Angeles
 

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In every casino and cardroom I've played, the charge for 10/20 is $5/hhr. I believe in AC it's $7/hhr for 20/40. Could it possibly be higher than $5 for 9/18 at Commerce?

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BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Commerce used to have an excellent weak tight $10-20 with $6/hhr time charge. That is USED TO. About five years ago, they started up the $9-18 and that was all she wrote. Read on:

Commerce $4-8 to I believe $20-40 are $4 drop per hand plus $1 jackpot drop. If there is no flop, then the drop is only $1.

All LA card rooms are just about this charge. Some might only charge $3 instead of four. Some start the time charge at $15-30.

Re: Los Angeles
 

So is the Commerce 20/40 any good?

Re: Los Angeles
 

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So is the Commerce 20/40 any good?

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Is Tiffany Williamson a donk?

Re: Los Angeles
 

Here's the deal IMO, I play 20-30 hours per week at Commerce 9-18 & 15-30 at Commerce has a 4 + 1 $ drop and the 20-40 is 5$, all games are generally good, the 20-40 gets you free food. I have found my overall profit better playing 9-18 as opposed to 20-40 Im guessin' 'cause there are as a rule better players playing the 20-40 'though I have had some big nights when I am running good. When it is running, the 15-30 game is the BEST, jackpot + free foodhttp://forumserver.twoplustwo.co...cons/laugh.gif
laugh + weak players who are not use to playing at this limit. I rarely have a losing session when this game is running. Thursday thru Saturday nites this game generally spreads. If you get in at the right time there can be as many as 6 or 7 clueless fish trying there luck at this game ( beware, there are a couple of us who continually scorch this game [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) James is one of the best floormen in this casino and he keeps this section at its best. As far as variance, I find the variance in this section to be less than any other limits that I have logged substantial time in. Hope this helps,,,good luck and cya at the tables

Re: Los Angeles
 

Very very very good break down.

My bankroll isn't quite up to that level yet, but I'm sure I'll see ya soon. There's plenty of fish to go around. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]