Pechanga, Alladin trip report

Warren Harding · #1 01-07-2007, 03:42 PM

This will bore you unless you are considering Pechanga or Alladin for poker. Here are some notes on two rooms I played that I do not see described here often

Pechanga, Southern California. 4/8, Thursday night

~50 tables, average wait times. Spread 2-4, 3-6, 4-8, 6-12 interest list, 8-16, 15/30 interest, 20/40 that night, maybe 40/80 too. 4-8 is harmed by the other limits: it could not keep full, 6/12 did not get started and it seems that 4-8 attracts the best of the players who lack the money or confidence to play 8-16. I'd say drop 4-8 and 2-4, or drop 3-6 or 4-8. Players were tighter and chased less than I'm accustomed to. It is very beatable, but skip it in favor of 6/12, or lacking that, 3/6 (although I can say nothing about 3-6, however). Service/ chips were scarce and slow. No auto shuffler, players card swiper was malfunctioning/dealers didn't know how to use it (a little of column A...), causing delays.

This is a very small sample, but FWIW, I am not likely to be back. If it's the closest room to you, then it should suffice, but next time I am in the area (70mi from LA, 70mi from SD) I will play in Lake Elsinore (anyone played there?) or will travel further (Oceans 11 or Morongo perhaps?)

Alladin, Las Vegas 3/6, Wednesday night/Thursday early morning.

Played Alladin because I stayed there. Unfortunately, that was the only pro, and is not enough (unless you count the pot pushed to me by accident, which I gave back). They had 4-5 tables going including one limit game, 3/6. An alleged 15 minute wait turned into 45 minutes. When a seat opened up, a man standing near the table took it and the floor did not notice/care. Fortunately, I paused before complaining and assessed the situation (was I wrong?). Right away, another seat opened up and the man who stole my seat played poorly. The game was decently loose and passive, and rather jovial. However, the only reason to play here is being to lazy to venture down the strip. Don't bother with Alladin.

Also, Alladin is undergoing transformation (ie, dusty construction) into Planet Hollywood, which blows ass. I do not care for a scooter helmet from an obscure chick flick, I do not want to bath under a picture of Eddie Murphy, and the last thing I see before I close my eyes should not be Denzel Washington. All the nice things about Alladin's theme will soon be flushed down the toilet into which the second assistant to the best boy key grip threw a cigarette before the taping of Waterworld. Wow! Hollywood!

I also played the Venetian. Venetian was nice and has been discussed but I will bring up one interesting annoyance so that might not happen to you. A player disappeared for quite a while. The frst dealer forgot to give a missing player button. Two more dealer downs later, the man was called and promptly returned. Too promptly-- he was playing at another table! What a horse's ass! Be aware of the room around you when a player is missing for a long time.

private joker · #2 01-07-2007, 03:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Pechanga, Alladin trip report

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
This will bore you unless you are considering Pechanga or Alladin for poker....

Alladin, Las Vegas 3/6, Wednesday night/Thursday early morning.

Played Alladin because I stayed there. ... Don't bother with Alladin.

Also, Alladin is undergoing transformation ... Alladin's theme will soon be

[/ QUOTE ]

Good report, but FYI it's Aladdin.

Off Duty · #3 01-08-2007, 03:37 AM

I used to play at Elsinore a lot. It's a nice little locals mostly casino with good managment, good deal staff, and decent food.

TobDog · #4 01-08-2007, 10:47 PM

Used to play a lot @ Elsinore too(you passed it on the way to Pechanga probably), the locals there used to joke about the skill level at Pechanga games. If you didnt like Pechanga, you may want to try San Manuel, its in Highland, next to San Bernadino. They dont get many, or any, bigger games going often but 4-8 and under has a lot of tables and some baby NL too.

surfinillini · #5 01-08-2007, 10:54 PM

Pechanga is nice imo, nicest room in CA in fact

Warren Harding · #6 01-10-2007, 03:42 PM

D'oh.

And another thing: don't bother with the $20 trick there. I did some reading online as to what people get out of it, then decided it was not worthwhile. Nicely, I got everything that the $20 people got anyway.

Ace-Ex · #7 01-11-2007, 01:33 AM

I wandered into the Aladdin yesterday because I had a good time playing in a tournament there this summer. First of all it takes about 10 minutes of walking through yet another crappy mall to get to the casino (and the same walk to exit.) The new decor looks a lot like a crappy sci fi movie from the early '90s. Planet Hollywood is such an out of date concept it's not even funny. I wouldn't mind if they actually had more than 3 people playing when I went in AND you could quickly go in and out of the place. My guess is it will be sold to Harrah's in a couple of years and get re-done again.

Frond · #8 01-11-2007, 03:54 AM

I have had no complaints about Pechanga at all. How is the player skill level at Elsinore BTW?

Photoc · #9 01-11-2007, 06:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I wandered into the Aladdin yesterday because I had a good time playing in a tournament there this summer. First of all it takes about 10 minutes of walking through yet another crappy mall to get to the casino (and the same walk to exit.) T

[/ QUOTE ]

First off, it's nowhere near 10 mins. 3 mins maybe, 10 no way. Second, poker players are lazy and will complain about a measly 10 minute walk and yet sit in their car at 5pm in bumper to bumper non moving traffic for an hour to get to a strip casino. Third, use Valet, its directly under the casino, or use the Paris valet and walk in the front door. It's about 20 feet away.

Yet people dont complain about MGM grand that much and their parking garage is a full block behind Aladdin/Paris/Ballys lots. MGM is on Koval and the other 3 are on Audrey. (all 4 of which you have to walk quite a ways to get to the poker rooms through a giant casino, shops and restaraunts.)

LasVegasMichael · #10 01-11-2007, 04:59 PM

I'm going to have agree with the annoyingly long walk to get to the Aladdin casino when you self park is unacceptable. I would love to Valet 100% of the time (like I do elsewhere), but the Aladdin valet is notorious for flipping the sign over to read: Valet Full, Registered Guests Only every day, not just during peak weekends.

The fact that you have to trek all he way through the mall (which is easily more then a 3 minute walk for my wife ,and she is in shape, unlike myself) is both annoying and unncessary. The parking garage should lead to the casino. Period.

For the record, I don't play at MGM for this exact reason, as well. At least MGM has autoshufflers.