Pechanga, Alladin trip report

[Warren Harding]

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.