Those who've visited the Peppermill in the last year or so know about its enlarged and very hospitable poker room. However, it has a separate room in back that is designated as a high-limit area, although it's also used for tournaments.

Late last year (I think that was the timing) room manager Mike Gainey imported Jimmy Horikawa from Los Angeles as a high-limit host in order to develop some regular action that was higher than Reno has seen for a while.

I was initially skeptical as to whether this town (I'm a local) could support games higher than 2-3 NLH on a regular basis these days. I was nostalgic for the 2-3-5/10-to-go game that ran regularly downtown at Eldorado in the early years of this millennium. But Jimmy has somehow pulled it off, and for several months now there have been 5-10 NLH and 30-60 LH games running Thurs-Sun, and 10-20 O8 on the weekends.

In addition to the general room's amenities -- comfortable chairs, free soda fountain and soup tureen, competent dealers -- the high limit area offers complimentary hotel room service food delivery, periodic buffets of pizza, fruit, sandwiches, etc., comped rooms for out-of-towners, and a private, quieter area. And unlike in some larger metro areas, the atmosphere is always friendly with a "home game" kind of spirit among the players.

The 5-10 NLH, which is what I play, is a time game, at $7 per half hour. I think the 30-60 LH is the same.

The 5-10 NLH allows a $20+ straddle from any non-blind position. The straddle acts last pre-flop unless there's a prior raise. This has the peculiar feature that if one of the blinds raises the straddle, any players who've called the straddle act twice before the straddle acts once. There are typically some players who always straddle on their button, and there are occasional straddles from other positions.

The general room has a live waiting list board. The high-limit portion isn't usually live minute-to-minute, but does include anticipated starting times for the high-limit games.

I'm amazed at and pleased by the job that Jimmy has done.

Because this review/report is so positive, maybe I should mention that I am not getting any payment or other special consideration for posting this.

Thanks for starting this thread Steve.

I have been impressed with Mike & Jimmy's success in sustaining the higher stakes action consistently every Thur-Sun. Being from Tahoe, I used to travel regularly to Vegas, LA & Northern Cal to play 5-10nl-10-25nl. Now I can just go to Reno and play in a great game in a great room.

The High-Limit back room is honestly the best and most comfortable room I have ever played in. The staff also caters to the players needs with comped food & very cheap rooms comperable to Venetian suites.

Never in a million years I would say this but IMO Reno > Vegas if you are looking for a weekend getaway to play 5-10nl or 30-60limit. Also, recently they spread a 10-25nl game a couple of times that was pretty nuts.

I play in the game most weekends and we get a nice mix of non-boring regs, action players who travel from Truckee & Northern Cal consistety (one action dentist in particular) & randoms who walk in late night from the pits. Many Fri & Sat night games run into 7 in the morning.

Anyone who plays live need to visit this room. It's the nuts

I play the peppermill pretty much every weekend and I don't have much to add other than to agree with what has already been said. The room is extremely nice, the games are great, and the environment is very enjoyable. Jimmy and the rest of the staff have done a great job and I'm sure things will only get better. I live in Tahoe and used to travel constantly to play. Now I just drive down the hill every weekend.

In summary, I could not be more pleased with the high stakes area at the peppermill. They have definitely cornered the market in Reno, and it's simply because they are the nicest room and have taken it upon themselves to do things right. If you are looking for action in Reno, look no further. As my good friend Dtf pointed out above, this place is the nuts.

I also am not being paid or compensated in any way for this post. At least not directly

I live in the Bay- play the 15 at Pacheco w Sunny, Gary etc. I would love to come up for PLO. Think we can get it goin?

I read some nice things on here about the 5/10nl game at the Peppermill, so I decided to go check it out. I called the poker room on Friday morning; they assured me there will be a game going at 5pm and put me on the list.

When I got to the Peppermill at 4:45pm, there were eighteen names on the list (I was tenth) and they had a game spread with a dealer and chips/decks on the table but no one was seated yet. They started a 2/3nl game, so I sat down. Over the next three hours I asked periodically when the 5/10 game would start; I was told “any minute now” several times. Four of the players at the 2/3 game were also on the list for 5/10. They told all of us that we would be on the waitlist even if the game started, because we were not in the first nine. Not surprisingly, the other three players left after a couple hours. Around 9pm the floor asked if anyone wanted a 5/10nl game, but by that time only three players wanted it.

After I went to the hotel room for the night I realized there was a tournament going on at the Grand Sierra. I went to Grand Sierra the next afternoon to see what was up; it turned out that the action had moved over there for the weekend. I played the tournament on Saturday (A $300+40 that was somewhat softer than the typical $100 buyin in Vegas). The 5/10nl ran about 4pm-4am, but I was in the tournament 1pm-1am (mincash) so I only played a couple hours.

I played about 12 hours of 5/10nl on Sunday. I'm told the lineup was exactly the same as the one at the Peppermill. I would describe the game as about average. Probably 3k avg chip stack. The level of thinking among the better players appeared to be comparable to a Vegas 5/10nl. The recreational players were better than the average Vegas ones. If you were in the game, feel free to PM to discuss hands since I almost certainly won’t be back in Reno anytime soon – headed to East Coast and then Europe.

Got room comped at GSR, paid $120/night at the Peppermill (though several players at the 5/10 told me that if I give them a heads up I should be able to get a room comped at Peppermill when there is a 5/10 there). Food at GSR was ok, food at Peppermill was pretty good. The dealers were on average substantially worse than Aria/Venetian/Bellagio. Time charge was $7 per half hour (with $2/hr comped); I think it needs to be higher ($10) and in return to have only the better dealers for the 5/10nl game. Floor at GSR was pretty good. It can be fun to be an attraction with 5-10k in play instead of the 50-100k it would take in Vegas. (When I 5bet shoved the flop against another big stack, ~20 people came over to watch)

20/40 limit ran for maybe 5 hours at Peppermill, nothing else over 2/3nl ran anywhere all weekend.

really happy to hear Reno has been getting bigger games going! i use to be a regular in the 2/3 2/5 game that ran at peppermill and elderado. Maybe i will come up for a weekend for the 5/10 game. Did someone mention that you can get peppermill rooms comped if playing in that game?

The 5/10 has been going strong on the weekends. Most of the time last weekend everyone agreed to a mandatory $20 straddle on the button.

What is the min buyin for the 5/10 game?

500.

Very rare anyone buys less than 1k

What's the action like weekdays during the day in the main room (not in the high limit area)? I might dip up there from the SF Bay Area as I have some time off.

Called up tonight and the highest game was 3/5 NLHE. Anything higher, NLHE/LHE/PLO, running these days in Reno?

5-10 with usually voluntary 20 straddle runs Fri (usually 5:00 PM), Sat and Sun (usually 2:00 PM) at the 'Mill. See http://www.peppermillreno.com/gaming.../waiting-list/ for sign-up details.

I'm curious about any recent developments in the room; I read that they have a new poker manager.

Doesn't seem all that recent to us regulars, but the poker manager is Mike Nelson. The high limits host is still Jimmy Horikawa.

What brand of chairs are those in the waiting area of the poker room? They are so damn comfy!!

Anybody know if Pepper Mill or Grand Sierra will be having a December or January series?

What days does 20-40 generally run?

Wed 100%
Thursday-Sunday are hit or miss

I check their website almost every week; Friday and Saturday are about 90%. Thursday and Sunday maybe 50%.

Sounds great... I haven't been to Reno since they outlawed smoking in public rooms in California. Please tell me there's no smoking allowed at the Peppermill's high limit room and I'll be happy to come for tournaments and side action and such.

No smoking anywhere in the poker room, including the high-limit area.

Yeah
Just keep your eye on bravo
Running now

20 runs wed-sat regularly and on rare occasions, sundays. every couple weeks or so, one of those days won't run.

Ever get a 40 going? Any game/mix is fine. Would wed be the day to try? Would anyone want to try?? I'll start short.

no. there's the rare occasion, late night that it'll morph into a 30 or 40 with the right players though.