LA area poker rooms

Lucere · #1 12-24-2006, 01:48 AM

I'll be visiting family in the LA area in January with my wife who also plays. I'd like to hear everyone's recommendations for the best poker room to go to while there. Also, I'd like to play a range of games and not just hold 'em, if that matters to your answers.

RR · #2 12-24-2006, 01:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be visiting family in the LA area in January with my wife who also plays. I'd like to hear everyone's recommendations for the best poker room to go to while there. Also, I'd like to play a range of games and not just hold 'em, if that matters to your answers.

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Well is you have never played in LA before the Bike, Commerce, and Hollywood Park will all have more tables and more games than you have ever seen before. If you don't play higher than about 8-16 Hawiian Gardens will probably also have more games than you have ever seen.

Lucere · #3 12-24-2006, 01:54 AM

Aside from quantity, is there a difference in quality between any of the rooms you mentioned? Any other preferences?

*TT* · #4 12-24-2006, 01:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Aside from quantity, is there a difference in quality between any of the rooms you mentioned? Any other preferences?

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The games and limits you wish to play will help RR or any other poster here respond with the best answer.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

RR · #5 12-24-2006, 01:59 AM

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Aside from quantity, is there a difference in quality between any of the rooms you mentioned? Any other preferences?

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There are differences, but unless you are going to play higher than 20-40 I would just pick the one that is closest to where you are going to be and go there. There are differences between them, but I can honestly tell you if you walk into any of them after playing in the midwest you will think you are in heaven. I prefer the Bike to Commerce, but a lot of people prefer the Commerce to the Bike (it has more games and higher limits). It has been a number of years since I had it, but the Bike used to have great desserts. I have never really like Hollywood Park much, but I have probably played there less than 10 times in my life. It isn't as big as the other ones, but the Hustler is also very nice.

Lucere · #6 12-24-2006, 02:00 AM

Good point. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

no higher than 8-16 limit games (hold 'em, omaha hi/lo, and stud variants), though I would play lower limits also, and up to 500 NLHE. Hopefully that helps.

Lucere · #7 12-24-2006, 02:04 AM

Thanks, RR. I'm sure you're right that I'll think I'm in heaven.

RR · #8 12-24-2006, 02:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Good point. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

no higher than 8-16 limit games (though I would play lower), and up to 500 NL. Hopefully that helps.

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At these levels I don't think you will see any real difference. I have heard the Bike has the best small NL games, but I don't play NL and have only been in LA a few times in the last couple of years. I would go to the one that is easiest to get to.

sternroolz · #9 12-24-2006, 03:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Good point. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

no higher than 8-16 limit games (hold 'em, omaha hi/lo, and stud variants), though I would play lower limits also, and up to 500 NLHE. Hopefully that helps.

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I think it depends on where you will be staying and maybe a few other things.

Bike is pretty nice now with the remodel. It looks not so great from outside, but its nice inside. The games tend to be nittier and less loose than elsewhere, even at low limits. The food service is outstanding and the food is perhaps best of so cal casinos. I kinda have a bad opinion of the Bike, but only because there are so many choices in So Cal, and games at Commerce are so loose.

Commerce - easily the best over poker games in the world. Commerce low limit and mid limit players have tons of gamble in them. But I have heard some people describe Commerce as a huge unfriendly warehouse. I like it. Food service is good though getting a service person during busy hours can be tough. Lots of the menu items are really good. Some are not. There is also a buffet and a deli.

Hustler - I really like this place. Its nicer looking and more comfortable than any other so cal place. Its a real nice change of pace from the franticness of Commerce and Bike. I don't care for the food much, but its very inexpensive. The cocktail waitresses are younger than at the other places, and kinda cute(not hot like Vegas...cute). Drink service is super fast here. Games are pretty loose on weekends.

All of the above have lots of low limit games, limit and NL.

Also, on weekends HG runs a LOT of $8-16 LHE games. I don't care much for the place, but if this is the game you want to play, HG is your best option.

Lucere · #10 12-24-2006, 03:37 AM

Forgive my ignorance, but when you say HG, I assume you're referring to Hawaiian Gardens? I've heard mixed things about that place. I'm told that that might be the closest to where I'll actually be, but I've also heard it's not in the best of neighborhoods. If the games there are good, fine, but I'm certainly not opposed to driving a little farther for a better place and game. I've been out in the LA area multiple times and am fairly familiar with it, though I've never had the opportunity to hit up a cardroom until now.