Which place in Calgary has decent low-stake MTTs with reasonable rake? I'm talking about 100-200 dollar for buyin type level of tourney. Thanks for any info!

Played in the 2/5nl game at Stampede. Had a great vibe, ussually play in the 1/2 game at Stampede where their is going to be at least 1 donkey on the table at all times. I hear Thursday night is the best day to go. By far the nicest poker room I have been to next to the one in Montreal.

I have been to Elbow River once for the 4/8 limit game and I must say that even though its limit, the pots were bigger and it was more fun than Stampede. (Asian lady called a raise preflop with 32o just so she could have a chance of getting the kill puck - kind of shows you what kind of action to except from this place)

As far as MTT's, make your way down to Stampede and pick up the May issue of Poker Pro Canada (They have a bunch laying on a table) and on the last page they have a list of MTT's in Calgary.

I'm coming down to Calgary for the COPC. Any suggestions on where to stay that gives good proximity to cash games 2-5NL+?

I planned on staying and playing (tourney and cash) at the Deerfoot but now see that the room only has 8 tables and seems to be in the middle of nowhere. Elbow River and Stampede appear to be within walking distance from each other and Cash and Grey Eagle about a 10 minute cab from these? Is this accurate?

Which casino has the most 2-5 games? And any suggestions on cheap downtown hotel options?

Thanks

bump

Grey Eagle had one on tuesday but its pretty far out. 10 minutes would be way off. More like 30. I would stick around to elbow and stampede. Stampede started up a 2/5 the other night. Theres really no place for 2/5 in calgary. You can always try to start the game though and the floor people were running around trying to get people to sign up so it could happen if you get them out there promoting the game to the tables. The normal game you will find is just 1/2 nl

Thank you I really appreciate the response. I had no idea 2/5+ was so scarce. That's weird to me since even in Ottawa which has much less money than Calgary the casino right across the river in Quebec Lac Leamy will have two to three 2/5NL games daily with 5/5 or 5/10 being spread once or twice a week as well. I'd assume though during the tourney 2/5+ will be spread more often especially at the casinos offering events. I guess I may just stick to my original plan and stay at the Deerfoot and just rent a car if I decide to venture out to try other casinos.

Yeah, the 2/5+ is fairly scarce in Calgary, unless there are events going on. However, if I may make a suggestion... get a hotel more central, because you will have a number of casinos to choose from within a close proximity, whereas Deerfoot is out in the boonies. Grey Eagle is out on a reserve, but from downtown, it is still closer than Deerfoot, I'd say.

I played at ABS (Casino Calgary) that week as well. Their 1/2 NL game is deepish @ $500 max, and is the only one in Calgary that does that. Originally I didn't want to ever play at this poker room because of its not-so-desirable clientel, but then I realized those are exactly the types I want to play with. I just have to wear a bullet proof vest. LOL. They also had a 2/5 DC game going, which really just ends up being 2/5 Omaha.

I played for the first time at Deerfoot Casino, just because I had time off work and decided to go on a little poker room hop. It was really dead there. 2 1/2 NL tables going, and some little tourney of 2 tables. This was on a Wednesday night.

The day before that, I went to Grey Eagle, and the 2/5 was going until aruond 2:00 am and only broke because everyone was following a fish to the 20/40 LHE game, which became 9-10 handed at 2:00 am on a Tuesday night!

Another suggestion I have for you is to call the casinos individually, as they each have certain days that they spread certain games. For instance, Grey Eagle has a 5/10 game on Saturday afternoons, apparently. Elbow River, while mostly a limit casino, apparently runs a 10/25 PLO or something. Grey Eagle does the 20/40 on certain days, etc...

abs gets good later night games sometimes from players that have no idea. you can almost guarantee a decent win

last time I playd deerfoot it was $1-$2-$5, so basically a mandatory straddle. It was pretty juicy.

Wow so many choices in Calgary. Winnipeg sucks.

Deerfoot cash game action for Thursday August 26 (was there between 7 pm and 11:30pm):

1/2NLHE - 3 games (list at least 10 deep at 11:30pm)

5/5NLHE - 1 game (list 10 deep)

5/5 PLO - 1 game (with list)

5/10/25 PLO - 1 game (with list)


Anyone know what the action has been like at Cash, Stampede or Elbow?

I wish I had been in that 20/40 game that night, I miss playing live lately

I played at Stampede Aug 27 or whatever (it was a Saturday) and they had 6 tables going for the majority of the night. I got there around 11:30 or so and they had 5 NL games and 1 PLO game that apparently started off as a 1/2, then 2/5, then 5/5.

Elbow was really busy this past weekend. I actually thought it would be dead since it's the last long weekend until it gets cold, but it was pretty much full on Saturday when I got there, with two 4/8 DC games and two 20/40 games going. Stampede was dead on Friday with 3 tables going.

Oh yes, you would've loved that game. A certain somebody was in it. LOL. I don't think I'm allowed to mention named in forums. You can guess who it is though, if you played regularly at Elbow in the 15/30.

yeah, you and I know each other fairly well btw, we've been in each other's apartments for BBQs and what not.

I've played hundreds of hours of that 15/30 or 20/40 kill game so I obv know who you're talking about. It's so funny that people say he used to be a solid winning player back in the 90s.

I've found my way to the Stampede casino intoxicated at 2 in the morning the last few weekends after failing to pick up at the bar. It's been jammed all of these nights and super juicy. Buffet was very tasty last weekend and the croissants were really nice in the morning.

I recommend staying at the Cecil hotel which is central to all these casinos and cheap.

this is what i love about calgary poker, that everyone somewhat knows everyone who is in the poker scene

i havent been to calgary in 4 years since i spent 5 months there

and even i know who youre talking about! (im pretty sure...lol)

You are going to hell for this!!! LOL! But anyways, the Cecil is closed. All the "Cecil types" have moved over to Bridgeland, apparently.

Yep, I am pretty sure you know exactly who I am talking about

Bumping this for Jules_SA...
Also Stampede seemed pretty slow the other night, where is most the action now? Grey Eagle? ABS?

There were 2 $5-5 PLO games at Cash Casino today, and it's Tuesday

Elbow casino tonight lets try and start up a omaha hi lo game!

Sweet merciful crap, why? It would be the right venue for it though.

Just got back from Calgary. Played at Grey Eagle Fri and Elbow River Sat. Should have just played the 4/8 with kill @ elbow river. Only NL games going at Grey Eagle and the smoke kind of bothered me there. I imagine that O8 never gets played anywhere in Calgary.

Is it easy to find work in Calgary? The money seems to flow freely in the casinos!

calgary is a holdem and omaha town with omaha being played in the highest games usually.

the town is still in its stage of the oil boom and lots of money around.

I will be in Calgary on business Wed-Sat this week; looking for an update on Calgary NL and Omaha action. Thanks in advance.

I believe Stampede Casino downtown only has 1-2 NL lately, perhaps some 2-5. Elbow River has been home to regular 5-10-25 NL games, and the occasional PLO game at the same stakes, stacks are like 2k-10k generally (also they play 20/40 limit everyday). Calgary Casino (ABS) is said to have 1-2 and 2-5 PLO going everyday lately, as well as 1-2 NL. Deerfoot Casino is far away and spreads only 1-2 NL, BUT occasionally the 5-10-25 PLO game is played there for some reason. Also, there's Grey Eagle where they play 1-2, and have 2-5 NL often, and the occasional bigger game as well.