Best place to play 1/2 NL in LA?

[coltrane]

Hey y'all,

I'm taking a quick trip to Los Angeles this weekend and was wondering what people thought was the best 1/2 NL game to play in based on:

1) action
2) rake/table charge
3) availability/waiting list, etc.
4) service/ambience
5) buy-in rules (I prefer deeper buy-ins)

thanks in advance.....

[lowroller]

Paging Mr. Nebiolo...paging Mr. Nebiolo...

He should be able to give you the rundown

[private joker]

In Rick's absence I'll say that the word is that the Bike has really soft NL games, but their 1/2 game is a max $100 buy-in. If it's deep buy-in you want, go to Hustler, where the 1/2 game is $100 min and $300 max. (Actually, that might be a 2/5 structure but I can't remember).

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey y'all,

I'm taking a quick trip to Los Angeles this weekend and was wondering what people thought was the best 1/2 NL game to play in based on:

1) action
2) rake/table charge
3) availability/waiting list, etc.
4) service/ambience
5) buy-in rules (I prefer deeper buy-ins)


[/ QUOTE ]

You won't find no limit games in LA with blinds that small. The main reason is that per California law the drop is taken regardless of pot size (once there is a flop). With blinds so small you would sometimes get hands with one limper, SB folds, BB checks, flop comes and the drop takes just about everything on the table (as opposed to half of everything [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]).

Anyway, most of the smaller restricted buy in games feature a fixed $100 buy-in with $2 and $3 blinds. Most clubs (The Bike, Hollywood Park, Hawaiian Gardens, and I think The Commerce) allow you to bring your stack up to $150 if you have $50 or less.

Action is great all over town so you can't go wrong no matter what casino you chose. I work at the Bike and will be in Saturday night (in the casino business you need to work Christmas if it falls on your schedule) at 5:00 pm hosting the No Limit Section. I imagine we might be fairly busy with some new customers in town for the holidays wanting to get out of the house to escape their "in-laws" or whatever [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. Anyway tonight when I left (I was playing 20/40 limit) we had eight no limit games. Five were $100 buy-in games, one was a $200 buy in game, and we had two unrestricted buy-in games ($500 minimum) with $5 and $10 blinds.

The Bike is at least tied with Hawaiian Gardens for the lowest drop ($3 plus $1 jackpot drop on a full table) and is a bit better than the others because only 50 cents is taken on no flop. Note that some clubs such as Hollywood Park take the $1 jackpot drop up front and take another dollar even on no flop and charge a $4 full table drop.

The Bike's no limit section is in the Plaza (top section) and you will probably find the atmosphere somewhat less chaotic than the other clubs. That said, you shouldn't have to wait long for a seat at any club and every place has its special charms (and problems [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]).

If you come by the Bike Saturday night please introduce yourself. I'll be in a conservative grey or dark blue suit, am 6' tall, will probably be about the oldest guy in the section (at 50 years old) and cut my hair with a Flowbee.

Regards,

Rick

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
In Rick's absence I'll say that the word is that the Bike has really soft NL games...

[/ QUOTE ]

That's nice to know but I hope it isn't because I get to play in them [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
...but their 1/2 game is a max $100 buy-in. If it's deep buy-in you want, go to Hustler, where the 1/2 game is $100 min and $300 max. (Actually, that might be a 2/5 structure but I can't remember).

[/ QUOTE ]

Keep in mind that the smallest no limit games in Los Angeles have blinds of $2 and $3 as explained in my other post.

The Hustler game has $2 and $5 blinds and you can buy-in anywhere from $100 to $300. Amazingly, for some reason I don't understand many players opt to buy-in for only $100 so you can enter a game late and still be relatively deep.

Regards,

Rick