I would be delighted to hear from others so as to mutually enhance our games. Please share your experiences, insights, literature (magazines/books/articles/etc.), tournament stories, and/or bad beats with me. At your discretion, I will post your comments on this webpage. I'm always looking to sharpen my game and up to playing a home game.
S 7-card Stud
H Texas Hold'em
O Omaha, High-Low Split
E 7-card Stud, High-Low Split, 8 or better Low
BEFORE GOING TO ANY CASINO
Caro's Fundamental Secrets of WINNING POKER, by Mike Caro
Fundamentals of Poker, by Mason Malmuth
Supersystem, by Doyle Brunson
The Theory of Poker, by David Sklansky
HOLD'EM
Winning Low Limit HOLD'EM, by Lee Jones
Hold'em Poker, by David Sklansky
Hold'em Poker For Advanced Players, by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
The Complete Book on Hold'Em Poker: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing and Winning, by Mason Malmuth
STUD
Seven Card Stud, by David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, and Ray Zee
Trump's
Harrah's
Northern California's Bay Area Casino Locations
Artichoke Joe's, San Bruno
I visited this pleasant casino only once in Y2k for my first no-limit hold'em tournament. The tourney included pizza dinner. =)
Bay 101, San Jose's "Place to Play"
Brightly lit with inviting decor, this is the only place in South Bay to play any sort of serious Stud. But the force move table structure is annoying.
Bay Meadows, San Mateo
No idea... never been here. Wanna take me?
Casino San Pablo, San Pablo
Supposedely, one of the Bay Area's premiere casinos to play at considering the class of tournaments held here as well as the players it attracts. But I wouldn't know since I've never been there... maybe someday.
Garden City, San Jose
By far, my favorite Hold'em location. Though it's a bit darker illumination on these premises, the atmosphere is very friendly.
Lucky Chances, Colma
Good for just about any kind of player. This place attracts pro's as well as fish and look over the city from its glorious mountain view. I try to make it to their Wednesday no-limit Hold'em tourneys.
Oaks Card Club, Emeryville, "Play it smart."
The house where I was born into the poker world, many of my beginner lessons were learned here. Besides being my favorite Stud place, I used to deal here! It's the only card house I know that still collects a time rake every 1/2 hour.
Palace Club, Hayward
Never been, but I'll try [almost] anything once.
Pete's 881 Club, San Rafael
The only thing I know about this place is that they're open from 10am to 2am every day.
For the past 2 weeks, I've been going to Lucky Chances to play in their Wednesday no-limit hold'em tournament. The buy-in is $40 with a $20 re-buy and a $20 add-on if you make it past the first 4 rounds.
The first week, I lasted until the 6th round when I made an all-in move under the gun since I was already short stacked. I had AKo. A guy behind me called my all-in with pocket Kings. Both are group 1 hands, me being a small dog, but since it was heads up, my chances were slim. I lost.
The second week, I busted out in round 4. Again, I went all-in with Ace-King, this time suited. Low and behold, someone behind calls me with, you guess it, pocket Kings. And as you might have imagined, I lost. Even more frustrating, after that beat, I did the re-buy and the very next hand, I was dealt K10s spades. Under the gun raised double the blinds and I decided to muck my hand. The flop came A-spades Q-hearts J-spades. I flopped the nuts with the royal flush draw! Why me??? Had I stayed in the hand, I would have rivered the nut flush with 7-spades.
Not to be superstitious, but Ace-King has been the bane of my tournament play.
As of October 22, I am sitting on a healthy profit of over $1900.