Anyone know which corner of the Oaks is best to get the blue meth?

Behind the counter at Black & White Liquor, ainec.

(Used to be at the tiles).

+1

We'd have to check whether the Oaks is allowed to spread TD.

In the past, I've inquired about whether the Oaks would spread a mixed game, and they said they weren't legally allowed to. I pointed out that they're authorized to run LHE, O8, and Stud, so why not Limit HOS, and the response was that Emeryville was nitty about only allowing very, very specific games. Mixed games needed its own authorization (which includes some kind of application and petition and licensing fee) and my assumption is that TD would face the same resistance.

Incidentally, I'm almost positive I've seen multiple draws before at the lowball table (and hence, assumed it was TD). Am I just totally nuts?

Ha!

Just checking in, the Oaks is going to be my home base for the next few months, I'm a spread limit donk.

pure, you should learn how to play fixed limit. It'll give you more games to choose from if you are ever stuck in a suboptimal spread game trading blinds with tight regs.

Not table 15, I'm afraid.

You are probably right but I've tried it a couple times and just don't enjoy playing FL.

just saying i think oaks is a pimp card room(was there in feb <3). Also im from IL where live poker is LOL.

Alan and Callipygian- does PLO fall under the same rules? They could set up the structure like the Aria, which I believe has gotten great reviews.

I saw the pre-approved Oaks list a few years back, before they started with their SL games. I remember at that time the standard line was "the city won't let us spread anything but FL," yet there was the approval for the SL already in there. I don't recall seeing any PL or mixed games on there, tho'.

So, yes, the city has to approve, but no, they might not be telling you the truth about what's been approved.

PLO's a big game that destroys casual players. People ask for it, even though it's not good for them. Were I a room manager, I'd need a VERY compelling case in order to spread it on a regular basis.

I have no idea how PLO is regulated. But for the reasons pfapfap brought up below, I don't think that it working at Aria is an indication it'd work at the Oaks.

+1

Even the 100 max game is pretty brutal for the fishies. A lot of people just buy in for $40 repeatedly and basically stack off as soon as they coldcall a preflop raise and a flop cbet.

Both good points. I always forget that the Oaks player pool is rather small, and with an action player like me not punting away chips to the likes of calliygian, swifttarrow and nice_rack_charlie....times are tight.

I thought 100 max was all about flopping top pair (kicker not important) and just getting it all in the middle. What me worry?

I'm just not a fan of low stakes big bet games in casinos at all, frankly. They suck up so much cash in a hurry, and none of the "serious" players ever seem to like the formats. The casual gambler who will play 4/8 for four hours and leave eager to return now just busts out in 30 minutes and regrets his decision to ever sit down.

Also, NL tables are hot/cold regarding how friendly they are, but it's the rare time I sit at a FL table where people aren't friendly and having a good time. The action is so much faster, too.

Sorry, tangent. Back on track, I haven't been in a while, and don't live in the Bay any more, but I might be cruising by Oaks next week some time. Has the SL games killed the 3/6, or does that still go regularly? 6/12 still loose and silly?

PLO is problematic because of the city of Emeryville's maximum bet size regulation. PLO with a maximum bet of $100 or $200 might fly. (But I don't think it's a great idea for the reasons other people have enumerated, and I'm guessing Oaks management would agree.)

3-6 is still going strong, and so is the very loose, very silly 6-12.

That's because there's usually the internet-sunglasses-douchebag factor to deal with.

PLO is probably a lost cause. LC has been trying to get a game going for months with little success.

I usually play the donkaments on weds, sat, and sun. I sometimes wear a sharks jersey and huge headphones.

Come on down to Bay 101 in San Jose. We has no limit and 80 (sometimes 100) LHE. You might like it enough to come back for the WPT Shooting Star in March.

I disagree. Anyone who short buy is going to experience a lot of variances. Think of the players who constantly buy in for 60 at the 6/12 game.

The way 100max is structured, it is a lot more sustainable than any true no-limit game. When the pot gets huge, players call more than they would if it were no limit because they think to themselves "oh well, the most i can lose on the next street is 100." I heard good players complain about how with the SL structure you can't "bet big to protect your hand." I always tell them they're thinking about it the wrong way.

This. They suck the enjoyment out of the spread limit games and scaring away the recreational players (the term "fish" is very derogatory imo).

The carpets are being replaced at the Oaks this week, and there has been considerable disruption as a result, although the action has never actually stopped.

The carpets in the main room have been replaced 1/3 at a time, with games moved out of the affected section, mostly to the Oak Room. Last night the Asian games section was recarpeted, and a selection of tables were moved into the space normally occupied by tables 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. The 30-60 hold'em game was on Table 8, right next to a double-hand table.

There must be a catalog where casino managers can browse for the most garish designs imaginable. Every time the Oaks has changed its carpets, the new design is uglier than the previous one.

We call her squeeky.

Well of course. All casinos and card room have the same theory in interior design. They use bright florescent lights so it's too bright to look up at the ceiling. They have a tacky carpet so that there's nothing interesting to see on the ground. They have plain walls so potential gamblers won't stare at it to count something. Subconsciously you're suppose to look straight ahead (at the slot machines and table games) to gamble. Oh yeah, no windows so you'll never know what time it is, but that theory doesn't work at Oaks because of all the clocks.

could someone who plays in the lowball game tell me a little bit more about it? I'm going to be in the area in a month or two and would really love to play a black chip A-5 game, but it seems like that game might be pretty tough. anybody with experience in it?

I am not even sure there are any 2+2ers who regularly play that game or if they do they don't talk about it because its their little hidden gem. Alan bostick would be the expert (surprised he hasn't chimed in). I believe its normally only on saturdays, and I used to see it thursdays as well but that was months ago. Pretty sure that game has slowly been dying.

I do recall alan saying that the old fish from the 30 game will often play the 60 lowball as well, so its not unbeatable.

Good luck!

EDIT: his answer is actually in this thread. On my phone so don't know post number, but its page 2 on 11/16.

I actually think the new carpet looks nice, a little more cushion too which is welcome since I ****ed up my knee a week ago running. I know some of the 1000s I've paid in drop helped finance it, just not sure which patch to claim as mine.