I am in for either of those days as well. Does anyone want to get a 23 $1500 max game going at wild horse tonight? I will be there all day playing 1/2 and will put my name down for interest.

Anyone play at Hon Dah up in Pinetop? May be dropping in sometime in the next week to give it a go.

Can anyone confirm that Gila River poker rooms are NOW taking $2 PREFLOP as well as $2 on 10, and $2 on 20? I always thought that it was $1 jp drop if no flop. Now, in the 1-2 game, they take $1 rake AND $1 Jp? Is it the same in 4-8? They take $2 with no flop?

Might as well take 3 and play with no blinds at 1-2. (I'm not confirming it)

Greetings everyone.

I am hoping this is the correct thread to ask in after all of the Venue & Communities threads have been merged. Received some news late last night that the wife and I could possibly be moving from our apartment in Southeast Florida to around the Scottsdale area based on her transfer in September of this year. Obviously, she immediately asked me what poker was like and if it is anywhere close to what we have here. She is extremely supportive and actually I suggested I make poker my sole my source of income and so far (**knock on wood**) this has worked out as we had hoped in all regards.

I currently make my living off playing NL Hold 'em, 2/5 and occasionally some 1/2, in and around Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. The wife is the bread winner, but I do okay bringing in the rest.

Here are my questions:

1) Is Talking Stick the most action or would I have other choices as well? (Currently, I have around 8 casinos/card rooms within 45 minutes of where we live.). From what I was told, if we make the move we will live close to Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale. I am strictly cash game and play less than 10 tournaments per year.

2) I have read up on the "Spread Limit" versus No Limit cap bets and this should not be a problem since from what I understand it plays pretty close to NL in the smaller stakes and the "big bet" in the games are up to $500. With that being said, do strong players consistently show a profit to possibly make $50-$60k+ a year in poker in Arizona?

3) I surround myself with what I feel are extremely strong players and in our largest casino here I can comfortably gauge that mark for professionals is about 30%- 40% of the population that currently play. (During the middle of the week it may be even higher). What can I expect in Arizona as far as percentage of professionals? Very rough estimate would be fine. I kid you not, there are days where I see 4 of the 9 spots at my 2/5 or even 1/2 tables in Florida as the same people day after day making their own living and easily recognizable.

4) Speaking of professionals, at what rate do the pros leave Arizona permanently for Vegas?

Just trying to start with some general background before possibly making the jump.

Thanks so much,

Andrew

I don't play spreadlimit other than when waiting for limit so I can't answer all your super specific questions about game dynamics (just play for a week and you'll figure it out), but Talking Stick will not only be just minutes away for you, it is by far the biggest room in the state and the only place that regularly gets bigger than 1/2 games.

2/3 300 max and 3/5 500 max go pretty much around the clock.

Does the spread limit essentially play like a NL (w/ cap, obv)? I'll be at Talking Stick for a conference for a few days.

Yes. Very little impact especially at the 3/300 level.

Most of the time. Until the stacks get deep and in certain pots, basically there's no bluffing on the turn and river once the pots get to a certain size.

Bump for this question. I am also looking at making a move and Scottsdale is on my last. I played TS last year and really enjoyed the room. Could def put in some hours there and as a budding mixed game player I loved the variety of games. I think when I was there there was something like 6-7 different game types (not to mention limits) available. Makes game selection nice.

I already answered to the best of my ability above, but guess that wasn't sufficient.

1) Yes
2) No idea
3) Highly doubt 30-40% of the population in any area is professionals.
4) Sorry, I haven't been keeping accurate records of this. What do you want? Yearly % of total player pool? You said rate, so maybe you want # players on average per year. Is it of the 30-40% professionals? % of winning players? What about the % that leave for California? What about new people entering the player pool that are winners, doesn't that impact this figure?

Belated, but my funny little Talking Stick anecdote, kept short: playing 4/8 Omaha and pot between middle aged dude with headphones and older gentleman plays out with a bad beat board: AAQQx. Both have giant stacks, and are raising re-raising with extreme confidence such that the entire table, and neighboring tables are gathering, certain to see a the bad beat. You probably guessed it: older guy has AA, but headphone dude only had a naked Q! Everyone was a mix of pissed/flabbergasted except for headphone guy, who just couldn't believe he got coolered so bad......

Bah, here I thought they would both have AQ.

Even then they should stop at 6 bets max.

Yeah, it was kind of ridiculous. I mean, AA obviously wasn't going to stop.....

I saw a 4/8 mix game on Bravo at Wildhorse pass a few times. Does anyone know what games are in the rotation, and how often this game goes? Thanks!

I don't see it too often on there. As of a year+ ago, they weren't allowed to do draw games, so assume stud variants, O8, and Hold'em.

No draw games, that doesn't sound fun. Bravo says the game is running right now.

Call the board and ask what the mix is.

So I just did. I got "uhhhh, all kinds, big O, stud, all kinds" me "any draw games?" Her "they have plaques, and whatever game is playing its on the plaque, all kinds of games" Me "thank you"


No biggie I didnt want to bother any further. Next time ill just head down myself and check it out. Thanks for the help pope.

They are too busy to walk over and look

Report back if you play it!

Will do! I just really want to play some games like 2-7 TD, badugi, archie and other stuff ive seen that they spread in the Vegas mix games, but dont know when the next time ill get out to vegas. I don't mind stud games at all, but I would like to play more. So if they dont have any of those types ill probably skip it, who knows.

The 40/80 at Casino AZ will have those games, but I'm guessing that is too big.

Ya that game will be too big for me. Sad Face.

Omaha, Stud & Big O are the most common, once in awhile Pineapple will also be thrown in as well....no draw games as Pope mentioned

They get the game going usually on a Saturday night as long as high hand isnt going on