Poker News

Byron Liggett

Autumn — the start of the poker season, when cards hit the air, flops fly and players try to “bundle up”. Three big tournament thunderheads cover the Fall calendar.

The next big event is the “Fall Poker Round-up”, Nov. 2nd -12th, at the WILDHORSE Resort & Casino, in Pendleton OR. This is the premier poker rodeo in the Northwest.

The “Fall Poker Round-up” attracts huge herds of chip-kickers. They all gather here to cross the river. Those who make it are recognized and well rewarded. All ya’ gotta’ do is pick a good one, Hold’em tight, and ride it for all you’re worth. Poker Sheriff Roland Waters runs the Round-up. He does a great job. If you get bucked-off early in your event, he’ll have plenty of satellites and live games where you can try to get back on again. Star of stage, screen and tournament television, Vince Burgio, a California card cowboy, will again host the popular annual event.

If you want to play the best in the Northwest, the Fall Round-up at Wildhorse is where you’ll find ‘em. They’ll all be there — the good, the bad, and the ugly. There’ll be Super Stars, shooting stars, and some whose only hope is to wish upon a star.

The PEPPERMILL, in Reno, expects a huge Hold’em Harvest for their “Fall Poker Tournament”, Nov. 11th-20th. Always popular, it’s a Hold’em hoedown, where everyone does the Texas two-step. Like a dance elimination contest, those who last the longest get the prize money. Some of the biggest stars in Country Western Poker turn out for this tournament. There are two special events included this year. One is a $125 Ladies’ No-Limit Hold’em contest. The prettiest hand wins. Bikinis are optional.

The other is a $120 Omaha Split challenge. This event is for the Bungee Jumpers of poker. They bounce all around, up and down, screaming with fright and delight. Peppermill Poker Manager Ira Cohen is the Fall Guy. If you don’t feel like you’re getting your fair share of the autumn chip harvest, tell him. He’ll have some fertilizer for you. Not all the poker action occurs at tournaments. Recently, there was a Pot-Limit 7-Stud game at the new GOLDEN PHOENIX poker room, in downtown Reno.

Stud, now there’s a real poker game! Unlike flippity-flop Hold’em, 7-Stud is a dangerous, deliberate game. You don’t flop ‘n pounce; you stalk your prey.

Consider that in Stud, there are about 250,000 possible hands. In Hold’em, once the flop occurs, there is only a good hand or two. That’s why so many players like it, less risk. Stud, on the other hand, is a greater challenge. It takes knowledge, understanding, wit, and wisdom to survive on the streets of Stud City.

There is potential for a Stud Stampede. Hold’em may have ‘em now, but there’s a lot of frustrated Stud players out there. The Reno/Tahoe area is a good example. Only about a halfdozen rooms spread Stud games. What’s more, they’re all $1-5. That’s not Stud. It’s 7-Card Bingo!

Filed under: Poker News