The fact that people aren't talking about it on this forum doesn't mean much of anything. The thread on the Stones Gambling Hall in Citrus Heights (near Sacramento) has only 10 comments—and that's the nicest poker room I've ever visited.

The Oaks is very popular. They recently instituted a high-hand promotion for Hold'em, which has made the place even more noisy and crowded on Fridays than it was before. The place offers a wide range of games: LHE at stakes ranging from $3/$6 to $30/$60, $1/$1/$2 and $2/$3/$5 NLHE, $3/$6 Stud, $6/$12 Omaha, even a $60 Limit Lowball game on Saturdays for the old-timers who still want to play that game.

None of the Bay Area card rooms are on the Bravo app, except Graton Casino, which is almost a 2-hour drive from San Francisco. Visitors to the Bay Area who check the Bravo app aren't going to get any info about the Oaks—but they aren't going to get any info about Artichoke Joe's, Lucky Chances, Bay 101, the Matrix, California Grand, or the Palace either.

The argument between pig4bill and callipygian about the relative safety or sketchiness of the neighborhood is one I've read before on this forum. I'm inclined to side with callipygian. I park on the street if the Oaks parking lot is full, and walk around the neighborhood at all hours—to grab a bite to eat at various restaurants or pick up something at Home Depot or CVS. The liquor store on the corner feels sketchy to me, but Arizmendi Bakery and Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (down the side street from Pixar) feel just fine.

As callipygian said, it's an urban environment. It's very racially diverse, but there happen to be a lot of African Americans both in the neighborhood and in the Oaks itself. If you're not comfortable with that kind of diversity, then it's not the place for you. But I feel no less safe there than I do in lots of neighborhoods in San Francisco (like the Mission, where I live).

I used to think of the Oaks as a dive bar, but now it's just a place where I know a lot of people, have a really good time, and love the loose games and big pots.

If you thought it was sketchy 10 years ago, you definitely didn't want to be there 20 years ago. I don't think Home Depot was there. Best Buy wasn't there. Miyozen wasn't there. Pixar may have been there but small. The whole row of condos down 40th wasn't there. San Pablo was a red light district.

I think that's actually the Emeryville that pig4bill remembers whenever he tells people it's a dump.

I wouldn't be surprised if pig4bill had dropped by the place and all the poker tables were in what is now the Hofbrau, and where all the tables are now was a parking lot.

The Hofbrau is super legit too. I can speak on behalf of both the trip tip and roast beef sandwiches and they're quite legit.

Honestly, it's a cozy place. The floor and dealers are all great and charismatic and the players are usually all really friendly as well. I just don't really see this place giving off the vibe that would turn someone away once they actually get in and play.

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As for safety - I uber'd in, right to the door, and when I was done I uber'd out. No concerns whatsoever. Definitely want to visit again and right now I'm torn cause I have the day to myself today and since I'm sight seeing tomorrow, I'm debating going to Lucky Chances (I'm now in South SF) or going back to Oaks cause I liked it so much.

I have advised MSLHErs (who may be carrying more money than the average player) to direct cab/rideshares to Miyozen or IHOP, and then cross the street after they leave.

Last night I was sitting at the bar and a someone whom I thought was a street person came in and tried to sell me and other people a can of WD40. He was sitting/standing next to me and when I didn't buy the WD40 asked for $2. I gave him $1 and he left, leaving the can of WD40 behind. I then noticed that a $20 bill was also gone. I understand that in some sense this was an error on my part, but I've been going to the Oaks for more than 30 years* and nothing like this had ever happened before.

I know I shouldn't have given him any money at all, but he said he was hungry, so....

Conclusion: Be careful - more careful than I was.


*I've been going there for a lot longer than I've been playing. It's nice to have a hofbrau in the area; there was another hofbrau in downtown Oakland some years ago but it has since become a "nicer" (and presumably, more expensive) place.

In the area next week-staying at the Hilton Garden Inn. *May* get over there via Uber--any safety concerns with getting dropped off at Hotel?

How goes the 15/30? May take a shot, though haven't played higher than 8/16 in years due to inactivity and no softer game out east).

In another thread someone mentioned that they were about to switch from offering 15/30 and 30/60 to 20/40 and 40/80.

The 15/30 is rare to non-existent. It's usually 6-12 & 30-60.

6/12 it is. I will be a happy camper though it looks like work has me scheduled every evening. Sleep is overrated tho.

Btw, the rake is $4 +$1 jackpot drop. A toke of $1 is customary. That adds up to one small bet [$6]. Quite a bit, isn't it.

Standard sadly

There are people who contend that the 6-12 with this rake structure is unbeatable but seems as though this point is basically unsettled. [It does seem to be settled for the 3-6; most players seem to think that the 3-6 with an effective rake of $6 really is unbeatable.].

Btw I have never seen mathematical or even computer proofs of any of this.

No more than getting rides from strangers you met on the Internet!

Isn’t that definition of lyft/Uber ? You weren’t savvy enough to charge.

Went after I landed Monday night. Only lasted 1.5 hours due to the time change and early work the next day.

YOU OWE ME $1.50

Probably like $1.80 adjusted for inflation.

What's new at the oaks these days?? Anything?

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Big jackpot reduced to and capped at $50k, does not double anymore. They're doing a lot of high hand promotions (including car giveaways every couple months). It does seem to be attracting more traffic.

40/80 LHE now running regularly instead of 30/60 (30/60 may have replaced 15/30, not sure).

anyone know normally how many 2-3-5 games are running around noon/afternoon on weekdays?

want to try out a new card room

The board does. Just call them up and ask if the game is running yet. They'll either say yes or tell you the number of people on the interest list (which means no).

It used to fire up in the early afternoon but that was a long enough ago that I wouldn't trust me on that.

Bump. I have come out of retirement and am playing here regularly again.

There is no limit hold'em between 6-12 and 40-80. I had been wondering about how sustainable this was, with the 40-80 being its own ecosystem, but I've been playing NLHE, and 40-80 regs will sit in the 2-3-5 while waiting for seats in the limit game. It's my sense that 2-3-5 plays about as big as 20-40 or so. (Bankroll requirements are similar.)

I wonder how it works with the young guns coming up through NLHE and then needing to learn Limit to play in the Big Game?

I'm wondering the same thing. Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I see, if you want a 15-30, for example, the nearest place to northern Alameda county is the California Grand in Pacheco.

PS I don't know how I would be described as a player but it sure wouldn't be "young gun".

Such a shame, the 15/30 game there was my favorite, it was always great.

More people in the Emeryville area just prefer NL over LHE. There is a healthy NL ecosystem the Oaks has grown from the 100max and 200max spread limit days. I don't recall when the Oaks started offering real no limit but I'm sure that coincided with the decline of the 15/30 game.

If someone wanted to play LHE but not 40/80 there are options. AJs spreads a very healthy 20/40 game that often runs two tables. California Grand runs a very strong 15/30. Bay 101 runs multiple 20/40s.

This doesn't bode well for the long term future of the game. Most of the current player pool started playing when LHE was the only game available. My take is we'll see 5/10 NL before the 15/30 rises from the dead.