Maybe the person that posted this info can answer, but I've never been in a bar in Gillette where smoking wasn't permitted. Is smoking permitted at the poker tables in the Gillette bars, too?

I've played in some bar games in other states that allowed smoking at the table and it is intolerable and it usually doesn't bother me in most situations.

Bars close at 2am, so generally the game breaks. Some nights they'll just move it to a private location. Dealers will also send out texts to get games going, or let others know the game is on. Social poker and home games are legal as long as there is no rake or drop. But I've seen some big tipping. Some will win a $300+ pot and toss a $25 to the dealer. Games go most nights. And I've seen some open for $100+ at a 1/2, and a few will shove blind. Mississippi straddles allowed.

Played at Deadwood over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Played Wednesday night and Saturday night.

Wednesday played at 3 venues. The Lodge, Cadillac Jacks, and Saloon number 10.

The lodge had 1 2-100 game going. Very nitty. Apparently a lot of the people there are just grinding the promotions. Pots were very small and they rake half dollars even if the pot is below 10. Pretty weak imo.

Cadillac Jacks was playing 10-300 spread. This was the best game I played all week. Lots of action. Multiple people sitting with over 1-2k. Played big. Lots of straddles going in. This game goes most Wednesdays and they are trying to get it going more on Saturday as well.

Saloon #10 was ok. It was weird playing a cash game right in the bar. They were playing 2-10 5 handed when I came in. Dealers and floor were very accomodating as players dropped out we switched to 2-100 and then played heads up for a while 5/10 fixed limit which we later upped to 10-20 fixed limit. Not the usual apparently but was fun. They don't really drop the rake shorthanded which was lame.

Saturday played at Silverado first. The game was 2-20 spread. Nitty but not as bad as the Lodge. Game was never full and I left when the game was 5 handed bc they refused to drop the rake and the live players busted. Average raise was 7 dollars or so I was only one consistenly making 20$ bets. Most people were sitting with less than 200.

Checked out Saloon 10 when I left. One 2-10 spread game going short. I passed on that.

Moved onto Cadillac Jacks. They were playing 2-50 spread. This game was pretty good. Often 10-20 raises preflop. Lots of straddles (mississipi style). Good action and fun game.

From my experience I would play mostly at Cadillac Jacks if I was to come back. I enjoyed all the casinos and thought the floor and dealers were professionals. The locals were nice people and the games were variable. Lots of nits unfortunately some action players and a few stone fish. I was surprised by the lack of action on a Saturday night. None of the tables I played on or saw were full. Fun place to play some cards if you are in town though.

Sounds like Jack's is the only place worth playing then. Disappointing to hear the lack of action at other venues.

I don't think any poker room in Deadwood drops rake when it is shorthanded. I've never understood that policy. It makes it difficult to get games going and preserve them when they start to die when you're taking $5+1 out of short games. It gets to about six-handed and the game instantly crashes as opposed to finding some way to keep the game going long enough to give it a chance to fill again. I've never seen any other market do this.

It's interesting that the Lodge was nitty. Usually that's where I see all the rich ranchers throwing around "big" money (for deadwood)

Maybe I'll check out that 10-300 at Caddy's. Never liked that room much, but if that's the best game, maybe I'll check it out when I start playing again.

I was in Deadwood during the first week of December. It was deserted. A friend of mine and I kept poker tables alive that would have suffered early deaths three nights in a row.

Deadwood used to be a great place to play poker. Not so much now. And, winter is not nearly the same as summer during tourist season. I haven't been, because everywhere is incredibly expensive, during Sturgis bike week but I bet it is really rocking then.

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I'm gonna try to time it so I get to play this Cadillac Jacks Wednesday night game next week. Hopefully it runs. Check out a couple of local sights on thursday then move on.

Any suggestions on a decent place to stay for good value?

Are you looking for as cheap as possible? Franklin is the winner there. You'll find plenty of nights where it is $30. The hotel was built in 1903 though and comes with some authentic features that someone looking for a modern hotel will find annoying. It has the feel of an old haunted hotel but I don't mind it.

If you're looking for somewhere nice for a great value, check out Springhill Suites. It's connected to Cadillac Jack's. Rooms are like $59-$69 during the week and about $20 more on weekends in the offseason. They are the nicest rooms in Deadwood. It is a bit of a walk to Main Street though.

Springhill has an added bonus that I don't think anyone else has. The parking garage is heated. That is a nice plus this time of year.

Thanks for the tips!

One more question, is crime much of an issue in Deadwood? How would you rate the general safety of the town? Car break ins, stuff like that? Any special concerns?

I lived up there for five years. I've never encountered a problem with theft and never heard of anyone else with one either. I've never heard of anyone having something stolen out of a hotel room or car. As far as casino towns go, it is extremely safe. The worst thing I've ever seen is some drunken fights around last call (2am) on the sidewalk outside of the bars when they close. Common sense should help you avoid those.

If you stay on Main Street you'll almost certainly have to park in the parking deck. It is covered in cameras. The Springhill parking garage is enclosed and locked.

The town is only about 1,500 people. Most have long family ties to the community and an interest in keeping the town safe for tourists.

Heh, that post was from 2012, and I never made the trip...

...but I'm booked for next weekend!

Not going to be much poker for me, but in case there is: any low-limit non-hold'em games likely to be found? If so, where?

I have not been to Deadwood much in the last few years so take everything i say with a huge grain of salt. Poker in Deadwood seems to be nothing now like it was years ago, which I guess is true everywhere. Used to be a good number of places to play in Deadwood that always had fun games going. Silverado was my favorite since they used to get a 3-6 limit game going. But I do not know that it goes any more. There is still a room in The Lodge and I believe in Saloon #10 and Cadillac Jack's

Last I knew the Silverado had an Omaha game they would get going a couple of times a week. According to their website it looks like Tuesday and Friday. Last time I was there it seemed like they did get a Friday night game going.

Hey, buddy! Thanks for chiming in. Hope all is well.

No Problem, Wish I had better info for you. Deadwood used to have a good poker scene but like most places has tightened up considerably. I used to try to go a couple of times a year but it just doesn't seem worth it now.

But, especially being a fan of the Deadwood HBO show you should really like the area. The Black Hills are really nice. If you have the chance take a drive through Spearfish Canyon. It is a really pretty drive.

Things here are going well. Work is good, Kids are good and Grandkids are good.

Drive in was stunningly beautiful. Spearfish Canyon and Iron Mtn Rd drives are def on the agenda this weekend.

Good Deal! Enjoy your stay. Are you headed any further west? Devils Tower in WY is worth seeing and not terribly far from there as well.

Wasn't planning on Devil's Tower. We're not early risers, and after we check out on Monday, we need to get to Denver to check into the next place.

As for some poker content, I stupidly signed up to play in the dumbest poker tournament ever devised: $34 NLHE at the Lodge. When they promised "unlimited $10 rebuys", I didn't know they meant "buy as many chips as you like!" Folks were starting with stacks 10x the size of mine! They could have started with 1,000,000x if they wanted to.

This was not my understanding of the definition of "poker tournament".

But everything else was great: highly competent dealers, free drinks that came as fast as I could knock'em down, and well-behaved players. Very enjoyable experience.

Lol, I played that tournament on a weekend a few years ago now it seems. I had to laugh when we got down to 4 or 5 players and I started a chop conversation. 1 guy was ahead of the rest of us, I was 2nd by a little over the others. They were hesitant since a couple of them were in for over $300. I had only bought the dealer add on at the beginning and no rebuys so was astounded that there were folks into that thing for so much. Next hand I beat the chip leader and he changes his tune pretty quickly since he realizes that I wasn't wrong when I said at that point we were all just flipping a coin.

Enjoy the trip to Denver, there is some bleak plains stuff in WY but still an interesting drive. Denver is cool and the mountains west of there are great as well.

Thanks, buddy.

I'm eager to check out those mountains, they look stunning. Gonna check out Black Hawk and CC, pics I've seen resemble Deadwood (one street, tiny casinos, huge hills behind them, etc).

The Lodge is a joke of a poker room. There is nonsense in many of their tournaments, such as they will post money added tournaments and then throw in far more freeroll winners than the money added covered. Then they will say "potential prize pool $xxxxx" when there isn't any chance the prize pool will get anywhere close to that point. Also, search earlier in this thread for some opinions about what goes on at the tables there.

I think the lowest limit game you'll find in town is 2-10 at Saloon 10. You might find something a bit smaller from time to time at Silverado.

So what are the biggest games that consistently run in Deadwood? 1-2 spread? And how many tables are usually going on? And is the Cadillac's still the place to go? thx!