Any information on the games and players at their poker room? Has anyone been there recently? I searched the forum and didn't come up with much. I'll be going to Ruidoso for a ski trip and the snow will probably suck, so I'll head to the casino.

I can't talk to the last few months, but a number of dealers from Albuquerque area casinos used to go there and play. There was a no limit game they enjoyed playing in.

Things have changed in the Alb area, so I do not know if they still go there or not.

I play at the Inn, more often in the Summer months when there are a lot of Texans who hate their money in town....

The room moved about a year-and-a-half ago - now only six tables. The play is mostly 1/2 NLHE, with a 2/5 NLHE Thur thru Sunday. There is a core group of locals, and many come in from the surrounding region throughout the year.

There is a 5/10 NLHE on Saturdays at 11 AM - can call in and reserve seats - no maximum buy-in; mostly a regular group of locals. This game is usually pretty loose....

I was there on Sunday, for the first time in weeks, and a tight passive 1/2 game was quite lucrative....

The atmosphere is friendly; no drinking in the casino. There is a bar @ the casino. food is available at the tables; there is a decent buffet, and a couple of nice restaurants and a bar in the resort. The out-of-state clientele is primarily from Texas

Rooms have been very affordable this Winter.

Inn of the Mountain Gods

Us people in El Paso don't have much of a choice for card rooms, this is really the only option at about 2.5hrs away. I have recently started playing here, really the only opportunity I have is weekends, so every weekend. The card room is very small, but usually they have about 2 1-2NL tables running on a weekend one 3/6 limit and one 2/5NL, I only play 1-2NL. Also there are some things that I don't like I.E. no electronics allowed anywhere in the poker room, sorry no ipods. The game is very, very soft and I doubt there are any 2+2ers or players that have any basic concept of the game that play there but have any of you been there?

The room / staff is actually so bad that it doesn't even make you want to play vs. some of the most horrendous players I have ever witnessed. You can't have any type of electronic device in the poker room, you have to leave the entire poker room to answer a call, listening to music is out of the question, you can't even READ a poker magazine, one of the ones they have in the room nonetheless even if you aren't in the hand at the table. All the absolutely horrible regular players who are all retired and don't care about throwing around money will be as rude and inconsiderate as possible to anyone not from the area. This includes people not even involved in the hand griping / calling the clock and insulting people for actually using their brain to try to debate making an All-In call. Some of the dealers are so rude to outsiders that they will insult them after losing a hand. Excuse me, I am the customer here the reason that you have a job, and you are acting this unprofessional? Of course those dealers will never receive a tip from me but then again the place works off shared tips so if I really don't want him to get any money from me I'd have to never tip any dealer. Service takes about forever and a day to get to you, and the servers are even more incompetent than the dealers, don't speak English and will forget your order 5 seconds after it comes out of your mouth.

Cliffnotes: This place is one of the worse "card rooms" in the country. But it also contains some of the most horrendous players I have ever seen and I have seen my fair share of them. I am talking about people calling any raise PF w/ ATC every single hand, not talking about a raise to 3x the BB but a 10-20x BB with ATC, 104os, doesn't matter, and paying off w/ almost anything after the flop. And DESPITE how immensely profitable it is, and to the point where I had to make the 2+ hr drive every weekend or I was basically burning money, I still almost don't want to play there, it is that bad.

I am in El Paso for a few weeks and was thinking about going to the Inn of the Mountain Gods next weekend. Anyone been there? If you have can I get a small review?

I know this is way late but for anyone else interested, the inn of the mountain gods is a rather nice yet very small resort/casino. have a very nice (but waaay overpriced) golf course. rooms are average prices. The poker room is small. i think its about 10 tables and only on a holiday weekend do they all run. they spread 1/2 everyday. 2/5 some weeknights but every weekend and on holidays 5/10. on weekends they will also usually get a 3/6 limit. the 2/5 is jucier than the 1/2 due to overpaid regulars that wont leave till theycan cash 3k regardless of how many buy ins it takes to get there. there are a decent amount of solid players there but on a weekend there's enough tourists to make it worth while.

Summer is better on all accounts, as lot's of "Texans-who-hate-their-money" are vacationing in Ruidoso...

The poker room direct phone is (575) 464-7799

FYI, the 5/10 NL game often fills with advance reservations - reliably starts @ 11:00 AM every Saturday

I'll be down in the area next week. Anyone familiar with this casino and the poker room there? Worth a trip if I'm in the area?

I'm wondering if anyone here has played the satellites in ruidoso nm for the WSOP Main Event? I was wondering what kind of structure it is and if it's ran fairly decent? What do blinds start at and when do antes kick in? Btw how many chips to start? It seems like a great tourny. $330 buy in with a 200 max field and first taking $17,000 package. 2nd $6000 3rd $5,500. Any info would be greatly appreciated. BTW do you have to take the seat or can you choose the cash??? Thanx in advance.

in almost every BM satty ive heard of not you have to take the seat -- its not even transferable.

Was there this last weekend. You cant take cash and non transferable, I would double check though cause I just herd it from some of the locals on the tables.

I tried calling several times. They never have the info in front if them or the person that answers the phone is nit a regular in the poker room. Still any info would be appreciated. Thanx

It is a resort destination up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere. I was there probably 10 years ago on a weeknight in the summer. There were 2 tables going and the room was really just an alcove (5-6 tables) off the main floor - obviously don't know what the action or room location is now. Doubt there would be much action at this time of the year. Drove up from El Paso and stayed one night at the hotel there - it was okay and reasonably inexpensive. Steal a pen if you get the chance. Looked like a nice golf course though I don't play. It was about a 4 hour drive from there back to civilization - though Billy the Kid territory.

I'm guessing you never went because you bumped your 1-year old thread so I'll answer. I think it's worth your time to go. The poker room is about 12 tables but I've only ever seen 6 tables max going. I've seen 1-2 NL, 2-5 NL, and 5-10 NL spread along with 3-6 LHE. I've only ever seen a Omaha game going once and I play there about once a month. The hotel is nice and fairly affordable. The restaurant downstairs is nice and they also have a buffet that's just ok. Nothing special. If you're coming from El Paso airport, it's about 120 miles or so, not 4 hours from civilization. It's already snowed up in the mountains once from what I've heard so expect it to be chilly.

The casino is nice and neat as is the poker room. They have a strict no cellphone policy. You can barely pull it out of your pocket to look at what time it is. It's kind of stupid but it works for them I guess.

I'm heading to Mescalero, New Mexico next weekend. I notice they have this card room there? Is there any action? Do they have any WSOP satellites?
Any info would be great.

Thanks

GJ

I was in New Mexico 18 months ago and played in this room on a Saturday afternoon. Poker is on the main floor with the slots, but segregated off in a corner.

Probably 15 tables, spreading mostly 1-2 NL. Rake capped at $3 with no jackpot drop. Dealers pool tips.

Players were mostly older (retired) recreational types. They were also running a tournament that day.

Hope this helps.

Going to be in Ruidoso for a week in mid-December. How is the poker room these days? Does the 5-10 NL still run every Saturday? What other days/times does 2-5 NL or higher run? Thx

Quick little update:

I've been there several times over the last few months and see that they only run no-limit, usually at least 2 tables of 1/2NL going on a weekday night. Sometimes they have one 2/5NL running.

Couple of interesting rules wrinkles:
1. No cell phone use in the poker room - even if you're not playing poker.
2. A minimum raise is double the previous bet - that is, if I raise to $10 at 1/2NL, the next size raise is $20 and not $18.
3. There is a "3-raise-max" at no-limit. Example: Preflop if I raise to $8, someone re-raises to $16 and another person 4-bets to $32, betting is capped for that preflop round.
4. Any chips that go over the betting line must stay - so you can't take a stack of $100, reach way out in front of you, and cut out $40 for a call.

If you want to angle (and I've seen a guy do this consistently) you can move your stack right up to the line, play with em, and then pull it all back.

Bad beat jackpot is Aces-full-of-tens beat by quads or better. (quads must be a pocket pair in your hand to count / both your cards must play if you're making a straight flush).

Daily high hand jackpots - first person to make the hand gets the bonus (both cards must play):
Quad 22-KK: $50
Quad Aces: $150
Straight Flush: $250
Royal: $500 ?

Dealers are allowed to play at the poker tables on days where they don't have a shift. I've seen at least 3 of em at my tables (not all at once).

People have been reasonably nice at the casino - can't really confirm the rudeness experienced by Maliant. Could be nuttier on the weekends.

Update:

No more high hand jackpots, bbj only.

Raising rules are more normal now - if someone raises to $8, the min 3bet is $14.

Limit Holden and Omaha are offered, but will never run unless you show up w a crew that wants to play - no bbj for those games.

2-3 cash game tables max is typical.

Just moved to an area West of Odessa, Tx. I assume this is the closest place to play. What games go during the week, weekend? Is 2/5 an option during the week? 5/10 on the weekends still happen? Is buy in capped? Is the general skill level still bad?

Thanks,
TxCowboy

The inn is probably the nearest "legit" room. Try using an app called "poker near me" to check.

I only go there occasionally. I don't think a 5/10 ever runs. Maybe one 2/5 on the weekends.

They've recently installed glass doors to help partition the non smoking poker room from the rest of the casino - it looks nice.

I think they've cut back on their daily tournaments.

Thanks for the reply jmc999.

I don't care that much for tourney's. I'm more into cash games. I'm only able to play Wednesdays-Saturdays. I found the app. Similar to Bravo Poker. So Fri-Sunday probably the best time to play? Is it worth a drive from Odessa area?

cowboy i live in hobbs and have been wondering same thing, id like to know more about level of play n player type/ i called and there sunday tourney gets usally 7-10 tables.

Any recent updates about during the week? I have some time off during the week in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks